Mexican night-blooming cereus, Serpent cactus, Snake cactus
Peniocereus serpentinus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is a shrubby plant. It can forms clumps with stems creeping over each other. The roots are tuberous. The stems are erect or slightly hang down. They are 3 m long and 2-5 cm wide. There are 10-12 ribs and these are slightly rounded. There are 10-12 spines which are 10-30 mm long. The flowers are funnel shaped and open at night. They are white with a pinkish tint. They are 25 cm long by 15 cm wide. The fruit are round or oval and 4 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Junco, Junco espinoso, Pitahayita, Reina de la noche

Synonyms

Cactus serpentinus Lagasca & J.D. Rodriguez; Cereus serpentinus (Lagasca & J.D. Rodriguez) A.P. de Candolle; Echinocereus serpentinus (Lagasca & J.D. Rodriguez) Lemaire; Nyctocereus serpentinus (Lagasca & J.D. Rodirguez) Britton & Rose; Nyctocereus castellanosii Scheinvar;