The answer is: A brier

Micah 7:4 - The summerfruits were here (v1) symbolising that the end of the harvest had come and the end was near, but Micah couldn't find any upright men in the land and the best of them was like a brier and the most upright worse than a thorny hedge. The evil in the land was indeed bad.

Micah's lamentation over the state of his society paints a stark picture. By comparing the best men to a brier and the upright to worse than a thorny hedge, Micah underscores a grim reality — the moral decay of his community is profound. Briars symbolize subtle danger; while they may seem modest, they can quickly become prickly and troublesome when unruly, just like how moral downfall can emerge discretely.

It's interesting to note that Micah's message parallels the cocktail of positivity and crisis seen throughout the prophetic books. The summerfruits Micah mentions symbolizes not only the cycle of harvest but also a sense of finality and urgency, reminding us that the quick passage of time can swiftly mount pressures on societal integrity.

Jewish traditions emphasize the significance of uprighteousness; for instance, Proverbs 29:2 states, “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice,” highlighting the harm that societal corruption inflicts on all.

Furthermore, in the wider narrative of the Hebrew Scriptures, individuals like Noah and Moses stood out as righteous men. Micah's experiences illuminate how deeply elusive righteousness can become within a chronicled history often littered with integrity failures. Thus, while it may seem like all hope is lost, Micah — and others — ultimately carry a vision of potential redemption and moral resurrection, reiterating the ideal that through communal reflection and change, briers can become blooms of new life.