Copper-Fruit Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for up to 35 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 63 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a knobbly, straight trunk covered in paper-thin, ridged, burgundy and brown bark, and inside, the flexible wood is copper-coloured.

The branches trail down across the ground and are covered with thick bunches of small, very thin leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are either orange, or sky blue with blood red zig-zags.

In early spring, it produces thousands of medium-sized, red blossoms with stiff, pointed petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a soft scent that smells like rotten egg.

In late summer it produces tiny, spherical fruit. The clammy blue skin is delicate and inedible, and the soft sky blue flesh is spicy and sour and very dry. The hazel seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with the space between filled with undergrowth.