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Mahogany

Fruit Tree type: Deciduous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This short fruit tree grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for up to 10 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 19 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, wonky trunk covered in thin, knobbly, mahogany-coloured bark, and inside, the very dense wood is pale brown.

The sparse patches of branches trail down towards the ground and are covered with small bunches of small, pleated leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are solid slate with muted purple patches.

In early spring, it produces large amounts of small, grey blossoms with many layers of petals. They are hardy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like warm milk.

In late autumn it produces , wide fruit. The soft faded yellow skin is tough and sweet, and the slightly crunchy pink flesh is salty and syrupy. The crimson seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with the space between filled with undergrowth.

It is suitable for making paper
It is difficult to kill and will quickly regrow if it falls or if its limbs are knocked off.
Several parts of the bine have medicinal properties.