Red Spike Succulent

This small leaf succulent grows up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall. The spear shaped stem is red, and is covered in dozens of flexible light green spines. The finger-like leaves are generally green. Handfuls of them grow on stumpy, gray-green branches that trail down across the ground. The leaves are resistant, and do not detach easily.

It is very slow growing, taking 35 years to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are turquoise on the edges and muted purple at the center, grow at the top, reappearing once every 10 years. The flower head is made up of 52 petals; the lower layer of petals are flat, while the upper layers form a tight trumpet. It has a strong scent that smells like glue.

The leaf succulent's skin is thin, the violet flesh is slimy, and the yellow sap is thin.