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Snake Cactus
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Snake Cactus
P Introduced Unknown Photo: Thingnam Anjulika
Common name: Snake Cactus, Serpent Cactus
Botanical name: Nyctocereus serpentinus    Family: Cactaceae (Cactus family)
Synonyms: Cactus serpentinus, Peniocereus serpentinus

Snake Cactus is a cactus with long thin slender columnar trailing segments of dark green covered in many white spines giving the appearance of being fuzzy. It is called snake cactus due to its snake-like appearance when allowed to trail across the rock or cactus garden. Amazing 7-10 cm long erect, funnel-shaped flowers emerge from segments in a pale pink and then bloom fragrant bright white flowers during the night hours. Flowers are 8 cm across. The lower part of the flower consists of a long tube, and this is spiny at the base, with the spines giving way to hairs above this, and then smooth at the upper part of the tube. Outer tepals are greenish with a red tinge, and the petal-like inner ones, are white. Snake Cactus is native to Mexico, cultivated worldwide.

Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in cultivation in Imphal.

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