Cactus phyllanthoides
Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp. 84, no. 41. 1813 [Feb-Mar 1813]
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Cactus phyllanthoides
Author
DC.
Chinese genus
-
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Seeds
dark brown.
Description
DisoSN'> Note Some cultivar names are in use, but there are no evidence that these differ from the original species - 'Deutsche Kaiserin', 'Empress', 'German Empress'. However, 'Giant Empress' represent a somewhat larger clone with more uniform pink flowers.
Flowers
Diurnal and scentless, campanulate to funnel-shaped, produced on year old branches, pink, 8–10 long, 7–9 cm wide. Pericarpel ovate with a few spreading bracteoles. Tube (receptacle) 2.5–5 cm long, 7–10 mm in diameter, greenish, scales more numerous than on the pericarpel, naked in the axils green to blackish purple. Limb rose-pink, outer perianth-segments lanceolate, opening irregularly before flowering, then spreading widely; inner lanceolate-obtuse, remaining more or less erect pink, paler inside. Stamens, style and stigmas whitish. Stigma lobes 5-7.
Stem
Primary stems to 40 cm long and 6 mm in diameter, woody, stalklike, round in cross below, flattened at apex. Lateral (secondary) stems lanceolate, flat, with terete, stalk-like base, 15–30 cm long, 2.5–4 cm overall, 2.5-4 cm wide, nearly smooth, light green, often red tinged, pointed, coarsely crenated or scalloped, obtusely toothed,with prominent midribs and lateral veins.
Fruits
Ellipsoid, green at first, later red, with ribs, 3-4 cm in diameter.
Areoles
Spineless except for young growth.