Bluebell

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 53 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many sturdy, straight stems covered in cracked, light brown bark, and the wood inside is yellow-brown.

The branches are long and thin that and are covered with copious amounts of large, sickle shaped, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are generally blue, flimsy and waxy.

In early summer it produces thousands of small, slate blossoms with slender, pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They fall easily and have a delicate scent that smells like something putrid.

In late autumn oval fruits ripen. The rubbery brown skin is delicate and edible when roasted; it is salty, and the slightly crunchy olive flesh is savoury and sticky. The red seeds are small and are bunched at the top of the fruit.