Organito de Vibora
Scientific Name: Peniocereus viperinus (F.A.C.Weber) Buxb.
Synonym: Cereus viperinus, Cullmannia viperina, Peniocereus tomentosus, Wilcoxia papillosa, Wilcoxia tomentosa, Wilcoxia viperina
Family: Cactaceae
As Wilcoxia viperina, in Britton and Rose's The Cactaceae
USDA: 10-11
Sun Exposure: Bright light to full sun
Origin: Mexico (Morelos, Puebla, also Sinaloa and Guerrero - see text)
Growth Habits: Shrub, much branched, up to 6.5 feet tall (2 m), olive green stems up to 0.8 inches in diameter (2 cm); 8-10 ribs; small blackish areoles 0.4 to 0.8 inches apart (1-2 cm); 3-4 conical central spines; 8-9 acicular black radials; old areoles lose their spines.
The plant described as Wilcoxia papillosa is included here: the main differences are smaller stems, up to 0.3 inches in diameter (8 mm) and only 3 to 5 ribs, it is coming from Sinaloa and Guerrero where it is called 'Cardoncillo'.
Blooming Habits:
The diurnal flower has glossy red petals and a tube dark reddish brown, almost black with spines and dark wool. It measures around 3.2 inches long (8 cm), 1.6 inches in diameter(4 cm)
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