One of the very few members of the Cacataceae family with a caudex. It was described by Jesús González Ortega in 1926, found in western Mexico, growing on the higher mountain-sides in a well-drained grit. Some water when in growth and lots of sun. It has big crème and pink flowers, which only can been seen at night. It can both be reproduced by seeds and cuttings, but only the seedlings and the specially square "dropping-shots" will form a caudex, which by the way can grow to 20 centimetres in diameter. If it doesn't freeze down, the stems will reach three meters.

The genera name from pene; 'thread' and Cereus; another member of the Cactaceae family, as to plant's form. The species name after  Joseph Nelson Rose, an early 20th century American botanist and authority on Apiaceae and Cactaceae.

 Made a cutting, and it formed a nice square next year.