Crimson Zephyr

This short fruit tree grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for up to 25 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 44 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, straight trunk covered in cracked, burgundy and brown bark, and inside, the light wood is silver.

The branches are long, thin and wispy and are covered with small bunches of small, very narrow and elongated leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are solid light brown or orange, with intense orange zig-zags.

In early spring, it produces thick bunches of small, red blossoms with cylindrical petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a weak scent that smells like grass cuttings.

In mid-autumn it produces very large, wide fruit. The rough blood red skin is thin and inedible, and the soft cyan flesh is sweet and sour and powdery. The crimson seed is small and is in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is sturdy and rigid.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with the space between filled with undergrowth.