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Crimson Succulent

Succulent type: Caudiciform (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This small caudiciform grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall. The perforated stem is gray, and is covered in sharp spines. The straight, bronze trunk can grow to as much as 1 foot (30.5 cm) in diameter at the top. Its emerald branches are very short and slender and start growing at the base the stem.

The sparse amounts of rounded-edged, slender, pointed leaves are generally crimson. They are light, but are very difficult to pull away.

It is fast growing, taking 10 months to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, a single flower with petals that are either amber or lilac, with a yellow center grows at the top, reappearing after 5 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is made up of several petals; the lower layer of petals are flat, while the upper layers form a tight trumpet. It has a weak scent that smells like rich perfume.

The caudiciform's skin is rock-hard, the gold flesh is slimy, and the lilac sap is thin.

A particular bird species likes to nest in it.
It is excellent at collecting and storing carbon dioxide
It is suitable for making paper