''Epiphyllum'' (; "upon the leaf" in
Greek) is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
epiphytic
An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...
plant
Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...
s in the
cactus family (Cactaceae), native to
Central America
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...
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
antheses, blooming only at night, and wilting at dawn. The
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...
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
Adrian Hardy Haworth (19 April 1767, in Kingston upon Hull, Hull – 24 August 1833, in Chelsea, London, Chelsea) was an England, English entomologist, botanist and carcinologist.
Family
The younger son of Benjamin Haworth, of Haworth Hall and ...
in 1812.
[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][Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-j). ''Epiphyllum'' Haw. Tropicos. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40004308] The type species is ''Epiphyllum phyllanthus''
[''Epiphyllum'' Haw. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved January 27, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/30002688-2]
Species
, ''
Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
History
Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
'' accepts 10 species:
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
''Disocactus phyllanthoides'', the nopalxochitl or German empress, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family (biology), family Cactaceae. It is commonly grown as an ornamental houseplant. It is one of the three major species involved ...
''
(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.
References
External links
Epi Species (GotEpis.com) a comprehensive list of genera of epiphytic cacti.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q310964
Night-blooming plants
Epiphytes
Cactoideae genera