<previous next>

Indigo

Shrub type: Coniferous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This huge shrub grows up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall and lives for around 45 years. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous sturdy, twisting stems covered in fine, silky, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches trail down towards the ground that and are covered with very large amounts of huge, 6 pointed, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are drab blue on the sides and brown at the center, delicate and clammy.

In early summer it produces large amounts of large, pastel purple blossoms with long, tapering petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a weak scent that smells like leather.

In mid-autumn very large oblong fruits ripen. The leathery indigo skin is tough and bitter and salty, and the very soft drab blue flesh is spicy and juicy. The pastel red seeds are tiny and are scattered throughout the fruit.

It absorbs an exceptionally large amount of water each day.
It is suitable for use as a construction material