Bronzefern

This big shrub grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for around 35 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has several thick, straight stems covered in ridged, brown and grey bark, and the wood inside is white with black speckles.

The branches are very short and thin with dozens of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of giant, stiff, pointed, leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are generally bronze, flexible and clammy.

In mid-spring it produces hundreds of small, light orange blossoms with 3 crescent-shaped shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a fairly strong scent that smells like damp.

In midwinter 4 pointed fruits ripen. The clammy copper skin is tough and inedible, and the crunchy light grey flesh is bitter and spicy and juicy. The green seeds are tiny and are scattered throughout the fruit.