Candle Wax Fruit Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for up to 45 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 65 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, wonky trunk covered in delicate, rough, pine-coloured bark, and inside, the medium-dense wood is burgundy.

The sparse patches of branches are very long and thin and are covered with small amounts of giant, long, tapering leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are washed-out orange and pink.

In early spring, it produces many clusters of small, silver blossoms with pleated petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a faint scent that smells like candle wax.

In early autumn it produces small, oval fruit. The clammy blue skin is peel-able and edible when roasted; it is sweet and savoury, and the slightly crunchy blood red flesh is savoury and very dry. The grey seeds are tiny and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are thick and spread across the surface, as well as underground, and overall the tree is sturdy, flexible, and difficult to uproot or break.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together, with clear space between them.