Epiphyllum

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For the genus Epiphyllum Pfeiff., see its synonym Schlumbergera.

iEpiphyllum

Epiphyllum oxypetalum

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Hylocereeae
Genus:	Epiphyllum Haw.

Species

About 19 species, including:

Epiphyllum anguliger
Epiphyllum caudatum
Epiphyllum chrysocardium
Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum guatemalense
Epiphyllum hookeri
Epiphyllum laui
Epiphyllum lepidocarpum
Epiphyllum macropterum
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Epiphyllum phyllanthus
Epiphyllum pumilum
Epiphyllum thomasianum

Epiphyllum ("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 orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

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.

Fruit of Epiphyllum anguliger

Epiphyllums are very popular house plants, with numerous hybrids and cultivars produced. In fact, the term epiphyllum is commonly used to refer to these hybrids.

The genus has 2 synonyms: Phyllocactus Link and Phyllocereus Miq..

[edit] Broad-leaved epiphyllum

The broad-leaved epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is a particularly well-known species of epiphyllum. It bears large, strongly fragrant flowers, that bloom for a single night only.

In Chinese, there is a saying "昙花一现" (tanhua yi xian) which means "to bloom briefly", alluding to the short lifespan of the flower, which only last one night.