<previous next>

Copperfruit

Fruit Tree type: Coniferous (Stores water in its leaves)

This small fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 35 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 43 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a wide, curved trunk covered in cracked, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the flexible wood is white with black speckles.

The small handful of branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with large amounts of large, stiff, pointed leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are found in blood red, violet and copper varieties.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of tiny, grey blossoms with fan-like petals. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like freshly washed clothes.

In early summer it produces , oval fruit. The sticky olive skin is delicate and edible when roasted; it is sweet, and the slightly crunchy orange flesh is bitter and spicy and juicy. The light grey seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.

The roots grow as a near perfect mirror of the tree above, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with the space between filled with undergrowth.

The sap is edible and slightly sweet.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like
It releases hallucinogenic smoke when burned.
It coexists peacefully with other plants.