Orange Spike

This massive caudiciform grows up to 21 feet (6.4 meters) tall. The thick stem is gray-green, and is covered in handfuls of flexible brilliant orange spines. The straight, brown trunk can grow to as much as 21 feet (6.4 meters) in diameter at the bottom. Its pink-red branches trail down towards the ground and start growing at the top the stem.

The handfuls of ripped-edged, very thick leaves are solid pink with bold green splotches. They are light, and do not detach easily.

It is steady-growing, taking 4 years to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are either aquamarine or dark purple, with a yellow center, grow at the top, reappearing every year. The flower head is shaped like a bowl made up of 4 widely spaced, round-tipped petals. It has a scent that varies in strength that smells like citrus.

The caudiciform's skin is thin, the gold flesh is rough, and the washed-out blue sap is thin and causes diarrhea if consumed.