<previous next>

Bloodvine

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

This small caudiciform grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall. The very thick stem is azure or slate, and is covered in large amounts of rigid grey spines. The wonky, blood red trunk can grow to as much as 1 foot (30.5 cm) in diameter at the bottom. Its copper branches are very short and thin and start growing three quarters of the way up the stem.

The small amounts of jagged-edged, thick leaves are found in amber, bronze and sky blue varieties. They are durable, but take little effort to detach.

It is very slow growing, taking 17 years to reach maturity. Once mature, a single flower with blood red petals and a magenta central disk grows at the top, reappearing every year. The flower head is shaped like a dish made up of dozens of raised, round-tipped petals. It has an overpowering scent that smells like onion.

The caudiciform's skin is extremely thick, the light brown flesh is rough, and the crimson sap is thin.

It can survive a long time without water.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like
It spreads easily and often blanket large areas.