Magenta Spine Succulent

This average-sized caudiciform grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall. The very thin stem is gray, and is covered in thick sheets of rigid magenta spines. The straight, blood red trunk can grow to as much as 5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter at the top. Its brown branches are tall, rigid and upright and start growing three quarters of the way up the stem.

The handfuls of irregular-edged, spear shaped leaves are yellow on the edges and dull blue at the center. They are flexible, but detach easily.

It is slow growing, taking 26 years to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, a single flower with each petal a slightly different shade of brown grows at the top, reappearing after 7 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is an uncoordinated mess of 57 curved petals. It has a mildly strong scent that smells like mango.

The caudiciform's skin is extremely thick, the intense orange flesh is leathery, and the light brown sap is thin and causes severe cramps if consumed.