The plant is known by several vernacular names in Central America which include: •
chactsul (
Yucatán,
Quintana Roo) •
estrella del mar (Yucatán, Quintana Roo) •
cambray (
Honduras,
El Salvador) •
cambray rojo (Honduras, El Salvador) •
mozote-doradilla (El Salvador) •
flor de muerto (
Costa Rica) The species grows up to in height. The
leaves are soft and pungent while the stem is light green with a purplish hue and succulent. As night falls the leaves fold to close the terminal buds as the plant literally sleeps. The flowers can be found solitary or in a loose clusters and are produced on a single stalk on auxiliary heads. ==Gastronomy==