Stenocereus eruca aka Chirinole

Stenocereus eruca is a low, spreading cactus from Mexico. Its English names include creeping devil cactus and caterpillar cactus. It belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Kew records its native range as Baja California Sur. LLIFLE places it on Magdalena Island and Llano de la Magdalena. It grows on sandy plains and coastal dunes. Its wider habitat falls within desert or dry shrubland.

This succulent subshrub grows along the ground rather than upright. Its stems lie flat, with their tips raised a little. Individual stems can reach about 9.8 feet [3 metres] long. They measure about 0.13–0.26 feet [0.04–0.08 metres] across. These figures describe stems, not the plant’s full spread. The stems branch and form roots along their length. In time, this growth can cover a broad area. The sources give no measured limit for the whole clump.

Each stem has 12 ribs and large areoles. These spine-bearing points sit about 0.07 feet [0.02 metres] apart. Each has one broad, flat central spine. This spine reaches about 0.10 feet [0.03 metres] long. Around it sit about 20 spines of unequal length. These radial spines range from pale grey to white. The outer ones are short and taper to points. Those nearer the centre are larger and flatter. The broad central spine helps explain the older name Machaerocereus. That name refers to the spine’s blade-like shape.

The plant’s creeping habit changes its position over time. Growth continues at one end while the older end dies. Roots anchor the stem as it extends across the soil. Branches can also break their link with the parent stem. These separate plants spread around it as the parent declines. This pattern explains the sense of movement behind its common names. It does not mean the whole plant moves at once.

LLIFLE reports that gardeners seldom grow this species. Its cultivation notes call for soil with much sand. They also call for a partly reclining planting position. This leaves the stem able to creep along the surface. Growers can raise new plants from cuttings or seed. The supplied species accounts give no flowering or fruit details. They also provide no hardiness limits or pest guidance. They do not establish edible uses or safety for people and pets.