Plants are wonderful beings that little by little science is revealing their secrets. It is known that many of them have the capacity to make complex decisions that help them safeguard their survival. But in most cases this type of plant beings have one factor against them, the fact of not being able to migrate from one place to another to protect themselves from the inclemencies of the environment. And we say in most cases because there are exceptions, like the Mexican cactus that walks and dies in order to live, the so-called chirinola.
Scientifically named Stenocereus Eruca and commonly known as chirinola, it is a cactus endemic to Baja California Sur where the desert meets the sea and provides the most beautiful sunsets. It is the only one of all the diversity of cactus beings in the region that does not follow vertical growth, but rather has developed an extraordinary mechanism to move on the ground. In simple words, the chirinola has the ability to ‘walk’ across desert terrain.
It does this through its growth, which is not erect, but rather develops horizontally at ground level. It frequently forms extensive masses with its body, since a single chirinola can measure 10 to 15 meters in length, a fairly large extension. In addition, it looks like a spiny snake, although very large because its diameter ranges between 4 and 8 centimeters. It has greenish tones that tend more towards gray thanks to the fact that it is immensely covered by thorns.
But if this were not surprising in itself, it must also be said that its offspring grow in a forked manner from the main stem. Then when they have the necessary means to fend for themselves, the small chirinolas separate and form new plants that will also spread widely in other directions.
A slowly moving cactus
The chirinola is a cactus that has amazed researchers, since few plants like it manage to develop the necessary behavior to migrate from one place to another and thus move to where the conditions are most optimal for their survival. But it is not the only surprising thing, because another of the characteristics why it is said that the chirinola walks is because it not only moves horizontally, but also manages to move forward thanks to the fact that the oldest part of the plant dies slowly, giving way to the new growth.
In that sense, it could be said that the chirinola has to be able to continue living, since the oldest part of the plant dries out and functions as a kind of compost for the newer regions and thus, the cactus can continue on its path moving through soil.
*Credit: Julio Bernabé
The chirinola, like other cacti, also flowers, but very ad hoc to its strange nature that challenges what we know about cacti, the Stenocereus Eruca flowers only at night. In the complete absence of light, the chirinola sprouts bright white or pink flowers that can measure 10 to 12 centimeters long. However, it is a completely ephemeral beauty, since its flowers only live for one night. After this, the colorful petals dry and during the day the chirinola continues its path through the desert soil of Bajar California del Sur.