SucculentSpiny Fanflower

This small leaf succulent grows up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall. The fan-like stem is brown, and is covered in sharp spines. The stocky leaves are either beige, or white with muted green streaks. Small bunches of them grow on stocky, yellow-green and intense green branches that are long, thin and wispy. The leaves are frail, but detach easily.

It is steady-growing, taking 7 months to reach maturity. Once mature, several flowers with solid yellow petals decorated with vivid purple lines and a crimson central disk grow at the top, reappearing once every 9 years. The flower head is shaped like a dish made up of 12 raised, round-tipped petals. It has an intense scent that smells like a newborn baby.

The leaf succulent's skin is thin, the violet flesh is smooth, and the purple sap is thin and causes diarrhea if consumed.