Indigo

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 181 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has numerous very thick, wavy stems covered in fine, knobbly, yellow-brown bark, and the wood inside is white with black speckles.

The branches are very long and thin with dozens of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of huge, needle-like, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are indigo and violet, strong and rough.

In late spring it produces thousands of small, amber blossoms with perforated petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like rainy days.

In early winter oblong fruits ripen. The clammy grey skin is thick and salty, and the very soft green flesh is sour and very dry. The orange seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.