Bloodvine

This short caudiciform grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall. The perforated stem is dark brown, and is covered in large amounts of rigid dark brown spines. The twisting, hazel trunk can grow to as much as 1 foot (30.5 cm) in diameter at the top. Its emerald branches are tall, rigid and upright and start growing three quarters of the way up the stem.

The large amounts of ripped-edged, thin leaves are slate on the sides and blood red at the center. They are robust, and easily come away when pulled.

It is slow growing, taking 35 years to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, a handful of flowers, with alternating petals of turquoise and amber, with a light purple central disk, grow at the top, reappearing after 5 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is shaped like a star made up of handfuls of widely spaced, round-tipped petals. It has a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like paint.

The caudiciform's skin is extremely thick, the subtle green flesh is rough, and the grey sap is thin.