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The 'creeping devil' forma cristata.... a very wild
and striking crest. |
Description: The standard Macharocereus eruca is an odd
wildly spined cactus with crawling
prostrate stems except for their slightly raised tips. They grow
about up to 3 m long
ramifying further and eventually covering a huge area. The crested form
is also very spiny and odd looking.
Areoles: Large, 2 cm apart,
Central spines: flat much wider than the others, 3 cm long.
Radial spines: Around 20 light grey or whitish of unequal length. Outer ones are short and
subulate; inner ones are larger and flat.
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Cultivation: This plant, is seldom seen in
cultivation, need full sun to light shade, in plants that are too
shaded the spines turn out to be shorter and
untypical.
Propagation: is by grafting.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Synonyms:
- Cereus eruca Brandegee
- Machaerocereus eruca (Brandegee) Britton and Rose
- Stenocereus eruca (Brandegee) A.C.Gibson & K.E.Horak
- Lemaireocereus eruca
- Rathbunia eruca
Vernacular names:
Creeping Devil Cactus, Chirinole, Caterpillar Cactus
The name Machaerocereus signifies dagger cereus with reference to the
longest
central spines that are knifelike flat and much wider than the
others.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Macharocereus eruca.
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