Epiphyllum

Epiphyllum (/ˌɛpɪˈfɪləm/;[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.

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
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Hylocereeae
Genus: Epiphyllum
Haw.
Species

About 19 species, see text.

Synonyms

Phyllocactus Link
Phyllocereus Miq.[1]

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.

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 as parents of Epiphyllum hybrids.[3]

Extant species

As of May 2020, Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species:[4]

ImageScientific nameDistribution
Epiphyllum baueriColombia, Panama
Epiphyllum cartagenseCosta Rica, Panama
Epiphyllum chrysocardium
Epiphyllum grandilobumCosta Rica, Nicaragua, Panama
Epiphyllum hookeriMexico, Central America, Venezuela; introduced to Florida
Epiphyllum laui KimnachMexico
Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw.Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico
Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw.Mexico to Venezuela then south to Argentina
Epiphyllum pumilum Britton & RoseGuatemala, Mexico
Epiphyllum thomasianumCosta Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua

Formerly placed here
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References
  1. "Genus: Epiphyllum Haw". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. 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. "Epiphyllum Haw". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
  5. "GRIN Species Records of Epiphyllum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
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