Golden Spike Succulent

This small caudiciform grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall. The very thick stem is yellow-green, and is covered in hundreds of flexible caramel spines. The slanted, gold trunk can grow to as much as 1 foot (30.5 cm) in diameter at the bottom. Its lime green branches trail down towards the ground and start growing at the base the stem.

The small amounts of rounded-edged, stiff, pointed leaves are found in turquoise, indigo and magenta varieties. They are rigid, and take little effort to detach.

It is very slow growing, taking 48 years to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are either slate or pink, with a yellow center, grow at the top, reappearing every year. The flower head is shaped like a cube made up of 13 widely spaced, narrow petals. It has an intensely strong scent that smells like rotten meat.

The caudiciform's skin is nearly impenetrable, the indigo flesh is sticky, and the yellow sap is thin.