Organito de vibora

Description

Peniocereus viperinus is a species of plant in the genus Peniocereus of the cactus family (Cactaceae). The specific epithet viperinus means 'snake-like'.Peniocereus viperinus grows shrubby with numerous shoots and reaches heights of up to 3 meters. The sturdy roots are fleshy. The spread, elongated, gray-green shoots are covered with a dense felt and have a diameter of 0.8 to 2 centimeters. Small black areoles sit on the eight to ten ribs. The three to four central spines are black and up to 6 millimeters long. The eight to nine radial spines are also black, lie on the surface of the shoot and reach a length of up to 4 millimeters. The bright red, peduncle-shaped flowers appear laterally along the shoots and are open during the day. They are up to 9 centimeters long and reach a diameter of 4 centimeters. Its pericarpel and flower tube are studded with black, bristle-like spines and long, white wool. The obverse pear-shaped fruits are scarlet.