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Golden Starflower

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

This big caudiciform grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. The thick stem is yellow, and is covered in many fine, gold, hair-like spines. The angular, orange trunk can grow to as much as 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter in the middle. Its olive and hazel branches are long and thin and start growing at the base the stem.

The handfuls of ripped-edged, heart-shaped leaves are solid sky blue with magenta zig-zags. They are resistant, and easily come away when pulled.

It is quick growing, taking 6 months to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are generally red; each flower tends to be a variation of this colour, grow at the top, reappearing every year. The flower head is shaped like a star with 16 raised, round-tipped petals. It has an intensely strong scent that smells like cherry.

The caudiciform's skin is thick, the blue flesh is waxy, and the copper sap is thin.

It usually houses a colony of beneficial insects.
It can absorb up to 19 times its own weight in water.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like