Epiphyllum (;[ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607] "upon the leaf" in Greek language) is a genus of epiphyte in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America and South America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.
Description
The stems are broad and flat, 1–5 cm broad, 3–5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers themselves are large, with diameters ranging from 8 to 16 cm, white through red,
with numerous petals. These flowers have notably short, nocturnal
Anthesis, blooming only at night, and wilting at dawn.
The
fruit is edible, very similar to the
pitaya fruit from the closely related genus
Hylocereus, though not so large, being only 3–4 cm long.
The broad-leaved epiphyllum ( Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is particularly well known species that bears large, strongly fragrant flowers.
Taxonomy
It was published by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1812.
[
]
/ref>[Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-j). Epiphyllum
/ref> The type species is Epiphyllum phyllanthus ][ Epiphyllum
/ref>
]
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species:|
|
| Colombia, Panama |
| Costa Rica, Panama |
| Mexico |
| Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama |
| Mexico, Central America, Venezuela; introduced to Florida |
| Mexico |
| Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico |
| Mexico to Venezuela then south to Argentina |
| Guatemala, Mexico |
| Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua |
Formerly placed here
-
Disocactus crenatus (Lindl.) M.Á.Cruz & S.Arias (as Epiphyllum crenatum (Lindl.) G.Don)
-
Disocactus lepidocarpus (F.A.C.Weber) M.Á.Cruz & S.Arias (as Epiphyllum lepidocarpum (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose)
-
Disocactus phyllanthoides (DC.) Barthlott (as E. phyllanthoides (DC.) Sweet
Cultivation
The plants known as epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums or just epis, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids of species within the tribe Hylocereeae, particularly species of Disocactus. In spite of the common name, the involvement of Epiphyllum species as parents of Epiphyllum hybrids is unconfirmed.
External links
