Serpent Cactus

This modest-sized caudiciform grows up to 26 feet (7.9 meters) tall. The asymmetrical stem is brown, and is covered in handfuls of fine, hazel, hair-like spines. It has a straight, narrow, black trunk atop a narrow clump of cracked, exposed roots. The branches are wide and gray-green and trail down towards the ground.

The wavy-edged, wispy leaves are subtle green at the bottom and turquoise with pink streaks at the top. They are strong and tough, and do not detach easily.

It is steady-growing, taking 4 years to reach maturity. Once mature, several flowers with solid slate petals and a subtle green central disk grow at the top, reappearing every year. The flower head is shaped like a star made up of 7 tightly layered, round-tipped petals. It has a mildly strong scent that smells like musk.

The caudiciform's skin is thin, the dark brown flesh is slimy, and the amber sap is thin.