Epiphyllum oxypetalum
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 Flower of Epiphyllum oxypetalum
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| Epiphyllum oxypetalum (de Candolle) Haworth |
Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Dutchman's Pipe) is a species of cactus and one of the most cultivated species in the genus. It is also referred to as Night blooming Cereus and often confused with species of Selenicereus.
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[edit] Synonymy
Cereus oxypetalus Moc. & Sesse ex de Candolle (1828) Prodr. 3:470 Epiphyllum oxypetalum (de Candolle) Haworth (1829) Phil. Mag. 6:109 Cereus latifrons Pfeiffer (1838) Enom. cact. 125 Phyllocactus oxypetalus (de Candolle) Link ex Walpers (1843) Repert. Bot. 2:341 Phyllocactus latifrons (Pfeiffer) Link ex Walpers (1843) Repert. Bot. 2:341 Phyllocactus grandis Lemaire (1847) Fl. Serr. 3:225. b. Phyllocactus guyanensis Brongnart ex Labouret (1853) Monogr. Cact. 416 Epiphyllum acuminatum K. Schumann in Martius (1890) Fl. Bras. 4:222 Phyllocactus acuminatus (K. Schumann) K. Schumann (1897) Gesamtb. Kakt. 213 Phyllocactus purpursii Weingart (1907) Moatsschr. Kakteenk. 17:34 Epiphyllum grande (Lemaire) Britton & Rose (1913) Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16:257 Epiphyllum oxypetalum v. purpusii (Weingart) Backeberg (1952) Die Cactac. 2:747
[edit] Ethymology
Oxypetalum (Lat.) = with acute petals, refers to the acute tepals of this species.
[edit] History
This species was originally described from cultivated material and its true place of origin has never been truly understood. In 1909, C. A. Purpus collected a slightly different type in St. Ana, Orizaba, Mexico. It has carmine red outer tepals and the flowers has an unpleasent smell, rather than being fragrant. It was originally named Phyllocactus purpusii, but does probably not deserve any botanical recognition.
[edit] Origin and habitat
Mexico to Venezuela & Brazil. Epiphytic or lithophytic. 75-2.000 m alt. Widely cultivated and escaped in many places and its true origin has never been fully understood.
[edit] Systematics
This species is closely related to E. thomasianum and E. pumilum, but quite distinct.
[edit] Cultivation
An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte. Needs compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 10ºC (50ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers in late spring or early summer and large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in a season. This is the most commonly grown of the Epiphyllum species and known under several nick-names such as; Night Blooming Cereus, Dutchman's Pipe and Queen of the Night.
[edit] Description
Stems erect, ascending, scandent or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stems terete, to 2-6 m long, flattened laterally, ligneous at base, secondary stems flat, elliptic-acuminate, to 30 cm x 10-12 cm, thin; margins shallowly to deeply crenate and ± undulate. Flowers produced from flattened portions, to 30 cm cm long, 12-17 cm wide, nocturnal, very fragrant, The principal odor component in the aroma is benzyl salicylate; pericarpel nude, slightly angled, green, bracteoles short; receptacle 13-20 cm long, 1 cm thick, brownish, arching, bracteoles narrow, ca 10 mm long; outer tepals linear, acute, 8-10 cm long reddish to amber; inner tepals oblanceolate to oblong, acuminate, to 8-10 cm long and 2,5 cm wide, whitish; stamens greenish white or white, slender and weak; style greenish white or white, 4 mm thick, as long as inner tepals, lobes many, pale yellow or white.. Fruit oblong, 12 x 8 cm, purplish red, angled.
[edit] References
- Anderson, E. F. 2001. The cactus family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
