Crimson Spine Succulent

This short leaf succulent grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall. The very thick stem is blood red, and is covered in dozens of rigid crimson spines. The smooth-edged, circular leaves are a shade of pink-red that gradient shifts to light orange at the top. Small amounts of them grow from the base in no particular order. The leaves are flexible, but are very difficult to pull away.

It is very slow growing, taking 30 years to reach maturity. Once mature, and only under the right conditions, a handful of flowers, with alternating petals of white and aquamarine, with a cyan central disk, grow at the top, reappearing after 5 years, but only when the conditions are right again. The flower head is shaped like a cup with 40 widely spaced, narrow petals. It has a weak scent that smells like alcohol.

The leaf succulent's skin is thick, the magenta flesh is rubbery, and the turquoise sap is thin.