Blackfruit Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 45 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 62 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a knobbly, straight trunk covered in very thick, knobbly, brown and grey bark, and inside, the medium-dense wood is copper-coloured.

The sparse patches of branches are long and slender and are covered with large amounts of small, sickle shaped leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are generally black.

In early spring, it produces dozens of large, grey blossoms with circular petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a weak scent that smells like ashes.

In mid-autumn it produces small, perforated fruit. The waxy pale blue skin is thick and spicy, and the crunchy amber flesh is bitter and salty and very juicy. The grey seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.

The roots form a tightly packed ball, and overall the tree is sturdy, flexible, and difficult to uproot or break.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with patches of undergrowth between them.