Lipstick tree

This small, shrub-like tree grows between 3 and 8 metres in height. Its heart-shaped leaves are alternate, entire, and taper to a point. They are green with very pronounced venation and can grow to 25 cm in length.

The lipstick tree’s flowers are a pinkish white and are grouped in terminal panicles. The flowers are made up of 5 petals that surround several stamens, which gives them a feathery appearance.

The fruit is a brown capsule or fleshy pod (also called waxy aril) that is ovoid and grows between 4 and 6 cm in length. The fruit is covered in small, supple spines and becomes orange-red when ripe. The fruit contains roughly 20 to 50 seeds that are covered in a fleshy envelope.