Crimson Spine Caudex

This massive caudiciform grows up to 22 feet (6.7 meters) tall. The very thin stem is gray, and is dotted with small crimson spines. The slanted, silver trunk can grow to as much as 22 feet (6.7 meters) in diameter at the top. Its gray branches are long, thin and wispy and start growing three quarters of the way up the stem.

The small bunches of toothed-edged, asymmetrical leaves are red on the edges and orange at the center. They are flimsy, and take little effort to detach.

It is very slow growing, taking 23 years to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, several flowers with solid light purple petals decorated with dark yellow dots and a dark red central disk grow at the top, reappearing after 7 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is an uncoordinated mess of 35 petals. It has a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like onion.

The caudiciform's skin is tough, the light brown flesh is smooth, and the dark yellow sap is thin.