Epiphyllum

This article is about the genus Epiphyllum Haw. For a group of artificial hybrids known as epiphyllums, see Epiphyllum hybrid. For the genus Epiphyllum Pfeiff., see Schlumbergera.
Epiphyllum
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Hylocereeae
Genus: Epiphyllum
Haw.
Species

About 19 species, see text.

Synonyms

Phyllocactus Link
Phyllocereus Miq.[1]

Epiphyllum (/ˌɛpᵻˈfɪləm/;[2] "upon the leaf" in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

Fruit of Epiphyllum anguliger

The stems are broad and flat, 1–5 cm broad, 3–5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large, 8–16 cm diameter, white to red, with numerous petals. 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. It bears large, strongly fragrant flowers that bloom for a single night only.

Epiphyllum species are added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca.

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, Pseudorhipsalis and Selenicereus. In spite of the common name, Epiphyllum species are less often involved.[3]

Selected species

Formerly placed here

References

  1. ↑ "Genus: Epiphyllum Haw.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  2. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  3. ↑ Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5, p. 286
  4. 1 2 "GRIN Species Records of Epiphyllum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
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