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Crimson Succulent

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

This small caudiciform grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. The very thin stem is yellow, and is covered in sharp spines. The stocky, black trunk can grow to as much as 9 feet (2.7 meters) in diameter. Its moss green branches are short and thick.

The ripped-edged, needle-like leaves are a shade of red that gradient shifts to pink at the top. They are frail, but do not detach easily.

It is very slow growing, taking 32 years to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, a handful of flowers, with alternating petals of turquoise and pastel orange, with a lime central disk, grow at the top, reappearing after 6 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is largely flat with 16 raised narrow petals. It has a faint scent that smells like fish.

The caudiciform's skin is nearly impenetrable, the blood red flesh is waxy, and the blood red sap is thin and causes upset stomachs if consumed.

It is excellent at collecting and storing carbon dioxide
It is suitable for creating strong, durable textiles