Peniocereus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peniocereus |
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| Peniocereus greggii flower | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Echinocereeae |
| Genus: | Peniocereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose |
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Peniocereus is a special group of cacti that grow like vines. There are about 18 different kinds of these plants. You can find them in the southwestern United States and Mexico. These cacti are unique because they have a very large root that stays underground. Their stems are usually thin and not very easy to spot.
The name Peniocereus comes from two parts. "Penio-" comes from a Latin word meaning 'tail'. "Cereus" is the name of another big group of cacti. Peniocereus used to be part of that larger group.
These cacti are often called the desert night-blooming cereus. They also share common names like "night-blooming cereus" or "queen of the night." Many other similar cacti have these same cool names. These names come from their beautiful flowers that often open only at night.
Types of Peniocereus Cacti
This group includes several interesting species. Here are some of them:
- Peniocereus greggii – This one is often called the desert nightblooming cereus.
- Peniocereus marianus
- Peniocereus striatus – People sometimes call this the gearstem cactus.
- Peniocereus zopilotensis
Learn More
In Spanish: Peniocereus para niños
