Purplefruit Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 25 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 34 years old. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a slender, straight trunk covered in thick, waxy, light gray bark, and inside, the very dense wood is pale brown-grey.

The tangled mess of branches are tall, rigid and upright and are covered with small bunches of huge, very narrow and elongated leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are brown on the edges and red at the center.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of large, black blossoms with long, tapering petals. They are sturdy and have a fairly strong scent that smells like fish.

In mid-autumn it produces small, asymmetrical fruit. The rubbery white skin is thin and inedible, and the very soft purple flesh is savoury and powdery. The hazel seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

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