Found only on the coast of Baja California Sur, Stenocereus eruca is named "Creeping Devil" for it's habit of growing prostrate across the ground and it's fierce spination. Stems can be up to ten feet long and 3 inches thick. Its dagger like spines start out red but turn white or grey with age. As the plant grows the older part of the stem dies and disintegrates so it literally seems to creep across the desert. It grows fastest in it's native environement, up to 2 feet a year. In stark contrast a patch of it at the Desert Museum in Tucson takes a decade to produce the same amount of growth. Stenocerus eruca is one of the most wickedly spined of any cactus species. One would not want to be thrown from a horse into a patch of this. Like most Ceroid cactus it produces large white nocturnal flowers.
      The plants above were purchased in winter 2006 from Bachs Cactus Nursery. I'll plant one in the ground and see what it does. The other will remain potted. The pictures below were taken by Geoff Stein, a fellow member of the Davesgarden.com forums. Geoff has graciously allowed me to use these pictures. Thanks Geoff!

A Magnificent patch at the Huntingdon Gardens

Closeup of the lethal spines