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Spiny Heart Cactus

Succulent type: Stem succulent (Stores water in its stem)

This small cactus grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall. The perforated stem is brown or blue, and is covered in many rigid white spines.

It is steady-growing, taking 4 years to reach maturity. Once mature, several flowers with solid orange petals decorated with black dots and a peach central disk grow at the top, reappearing once every 3 years. The flower head is shaped like a heart made up of 17 tightly layered, narrow petals. It has a strong scent that smells like wet dog.

The cactus's skin is tough, the white flesh is smooth, and the orange sap is thin.

The grains are bitter, but very healthy and are suitable for boiling.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles
It commonly grows in large patches.