Copperfern

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 195 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous narrow, slanted stems covered in hard, silky, copper-coloured bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of tiny, broad, flat, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are lilac on the edges and magenta at the center, delicate and sticky.

In early summer it produces several tiny, green blossoms with spear shaped petals. They are very delicate and have an intense scent that smells like burning wood.

In late autumn fan-like fruits ripen. The clammy silver skin is thick and sweet, and the very soft orange flesh is slightly sour and very juicy. The white seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.