Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw.

Climbing cactus (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Epiphyllum

Characteristics

Succulent epiphytic shrubs, the primary stem joints terete, elongate, about 5 mm. thick when young, probably thicker when old, the secondary stem joints narrowly oblong-elliptic to linear-elliptic, usually obtuse to rounded at the tip, cuneately decurrent into a terete subpetiolar base, 3-5 dm. long, 2-8 cm. wide, rather narrowly serrate, thick and callose-marginate in dessication, the areoles 3-5 cm. distant, naked or indefinitely papillate, borne superficially upon the upper broad margin of the serrations. Flowers nocturnal, very elongate and slender, white,
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the perianth tube about 18-25 cm. long, narrowly tubular, about 3 mm. in di-ameter at the base, abruptly dilated into an extremely short conic throat about 8 mm. broad at the orifice, bearing very few distant and inconspicuous external bracts, the perianth segments very narrowly oblong-elliptic, acuminate, spreading, the inner about 3-4 cm. long, the ovary oblongoid, inconspicuously tuberculate. Berry oblong-turbinate, truncate, somewhat tuberculate-angulate, about 7-8 cm. long and 2 cm. broad, bright red when ripe.
A succulent cactus. It grows attached to other plants but not feeding off them. The stems are flattened and branching. There are some aerial roots. Older plants have some spines. The flowers are tube shaped and occur singly. They open and night. The flowers have a scent. The fruit are narrowly oval. They are reddish-green and have an irregular surface. The sweet pulp has very small black seeds amongst it.
For treatment of taxon occurring in Australia see Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri (Haw.) Kimnach.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support epiphyte
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 1.0 - 2.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

A tropical plant. It grows in forests in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.
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An epiphytic plant, found on trees in the forests.
Light 4-6
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture 5-6
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-12

Usage

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are sweet.
Uses medicinal
Edible fruits seeds
Therapeutic use Tonic (unspecified), Cardiac (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants are easily grow from cuttings.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Epiphyllum phyllanthus habit picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Epiphyllum phyllanthus leaf picture by Ragonezi Sandro (cc-by-sa)
Epiphyllum phyllanthus leaf picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)
Epiphyllum phyllanthus leaf picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Epiphyllum phyllanthus flower picture by Josemanuel Trujillo (cc-by-sa)
Epiphyllum phyllanthus flower picture by López Lucy (cc-by-sa)
Epiphyllum phyllanthus flower picture by López Lucy (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Epiphyllum phyllanthus fruit picture by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Epiphyllum phyllanthus world distribution map, present in Australia, Brazil, and Panama

Conservation status

Epiphyllum phyllanthus threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID -
WFO ID wfo-0000670206
COL ID 6FV9X
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID 629651
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Cactus phyllanthus Cereus phyllanthus Phyllocactus phyllanthus Rhipsalis phyllanthus Opuntia phyllanthus Phyllocactus speciosus Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. phyllanthus Epiphyllum phyllanthus

Lower taxons

Epiphyllum phyllanthus subsp. rubrocoronatum Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. plattsii Epiphyllum phyllanthus subsp. phyllanthus