Cliffvine

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 34 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several thick, straight stems covered in hard, cracked, pine-coloured bark, and the wood inside is burgundy.

The branches are very short and thick with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, needle-like, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either turquoise, or dark blue with indigo streaks, flimsy and crispy.

In late spring it produces balls of tiny, white blossoms with 5 triangular shaped petals. They fall easily and have a soft scent that smells like coconut.

In early autumn small asymmetrical fruits ripen. The fuzzy violet skin is tough and edible when boiled; it is sweet and bitter, and the crunchy dark blue flesh is sweet and spicy and juicy. The hazel seeds are large and are bunched at the top of the fruit.