Biology:Epiphyllum

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Epiphyllum, /ˌɛpɪˈfɪləm/;[1] from Ancient Greek ἐπι- (epi-), meaning "upon", and φύλλον (phúllon), meaning "leaf", is a genus of epiphytic plants 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,[2] with numerous petals. These flowers have notably short, nocturnal antheses, blooming only at night, and wilting at dawn.[3] 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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025} The broad-leaved epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is particularly well known species that bears large, strongly fragrant flowers.[4]

Taxonomy

It was published by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1812.[5][6] The type species is Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw.[7]

Species

As of May 2020, Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species:[8]

Image Scientific name Distribution
120px Epiphyllum baueri Dorsch Colombia, Panama
Epiphyllum cartagense (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose Costa Rica, Panama
120px Epiphyllum chrysocardium Alexander Mexico
Epiphyllum grandilobum (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama
120px Epiphyllum hookeri Haw. Mexico, Central America, Venezuela; introduced to Florida
120px Epiphyllum laui Kimnach Mexico
120px Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw. Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico
120px Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw. Mexico to Venezuela then south to Argentina
120px Epiphyllum pumilum Britton & Rose Guatemala, Mexico
120px Epiphyllum thomasianum (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose 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[9])

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.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ↑ "Leaf cactus | Description & Facts | Britannica" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/plant/leaf-cactus. 
  3. ↑ Smith, Leland (2024-03-11). "Epiphyllum phyllanthus subsp. rubrocoronatum in Nicaragua". Cactus and Succulent Journal 96 (1). doi:10.2985/015.096.0111. ISSN 0007-9367. https://bioone.org/journals/cactus-and-succulent-journal/volume-96/issue-1/015.096.0111/Epiphyllum-phyllanthus-subsp-rubrocoronatum-in-Nicaragua/10.2985/015.096.0111.full. 
  4. ↑ Lim, T. K. (2014). Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 7, Flowers. SpringerLink Bücher. Dordrecht s.l: Springer Netherlands. ISBN 978-94-007-7394-3. 
  5. ↑ Haworth, Adrian Hardy. (1812). Synopsis plantarum succulentarum :cum descriptionibus, synonymis, locis, observationibus anglicanis, culturaque (p. 197). Typis R. Taylor et Socii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10003997
  6. ↑ Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-j). Epiphyllum Haw. Tropicos. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40004308
  7. ↑ Epiphyllum Haw. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/30002688-2
  8. ↑ "Epiphyllum Haw.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30002688-2. 
  9. ↑ "GRIN Species Records of Epiphyllum". United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?4316. 
  10. ↑ Van der Meer, M. H. J. (2018-12-31). "16 new nothogenera and 15 new combinations in Hylocereeae (Cactaceae)". Cactologia Phantastica 1: 1–16. https://zenodo.org/record/2543879. 
  11. ↑ Worsley, A. (1907). "Hybrids among the Amarylliae and Cactaceae, with some notes on variation in the Gesneriaceae and the genus Senecio". in Wilks, W.. London: Spottiswoode & Co.. pp. 407. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/206746#page/455/mode/1up. 

Wikidata ☰ Q310964 entry



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