Copperleaf

This small tree grows up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 55 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a sturdy, straight trunk covered in delicate, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the very light wood is brown.

The numerous branches are very short and thin and are covered with thick bunches of crispy, small, wispy leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are generally violet.

In early spring, it produces many balls of tiny, deep red blossoms with long, tapering petals. They are hardy and have a powerful scent that smells like leather.

In late summer it forms small, slate, winged seeds that spin and fall nearby.

The roots are fine and grow in a large web, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

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