Epiphyllum macropterum (Lem.) Britton & Rose

Orchid cactus (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Epiphyllum

Characteristics

Massive succulent epiphytic shrubs, the primary stem joints terete or weakly 4-angled and 5-8 mm. thick when young, becoming stouter and terete in age, the secondary stem joints narrowly obovate-to oblong-elliptic, obtuse to rounded at the tip, broadly decurrent to a short weakly angled subpetiolar base, about 6-8 dm. long and 5-10 cm. broad, rather broadly and regularly crenate, rather thin and venose in dessication, conspicuously callose-marginate, the areoles 2-5 cm. distant, minutely puberulent, borne within the deep indentations of the crenations. Flowers nocturnal, very large and handsome, the perianth tube 12-15 cm. long, tubular, arcuate, about 6 mm. broad at the base, gradually dilating to a conical throat about 3 cm. broad at the orifice, pale greenish rose, bearing rather conspicuous persistent subfoliaceous bracts, the segments about 8-12 cm. long, slightly spreading, the outer linear-lanceolate, pale greenish rose, the inner obovate-elliptic, white; ovary oblongoid, about 3-4 cm. long, bearing many subfoliaceous bracts. Berry oblong-fusiform, usually beaked, about 10-12 cm. long and 4-5 cm. thick, slightly tuberculate at the minutely puberulent areoles, red when ripe.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support -
Foliage retention
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
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Nitrogen fixer -
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Environment

Light 4-6
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture 5-6
Soil acidity -
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Hardiness (USDA) -

Usage

Uses -
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
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Distribution

Epiphyllum macropterum world distribution map, present in Panama

Identifiers

LSID -
WFO ID wfo-0000670197
COL ID 3Y854
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Phyllocactus macropterus Marniera macroptera Epiphyllum macropterum