Xerophyte

Description

It is a very delightful epiphytic perennial cactus, that forms clumps about 30 cm high with a 60-100 cm spread. It’s a heavy bloomer and easily flowered plant that has the very appropriate and descriptive popular name, the “Red Orchid Cactus” For many years this species has aroused much controversy among horticulturists and botanists alike and it was assigned to the genus Epiphyllum by Haworth in 1829 but later some botanists considered it to be a natural hybrid between DisoSN'>8517' alt='8518'>Cactus phyllanthoides#SN#8518'>Diso[[Cactus phyllanthoidesSN' style='border

Flowers

Large, curved, funnelform and showy up to 11-14 cm across, deep-crimson with greenish throats, Stigma red or purplish with no white lobes.

Blooming Season

Spring, the flowers tend to open in the afternoon or evening and remain opened both night and day for several days (usually 3). Species that are put in the Epiphyllum genus today are all night bloomers.

Spines

Unarmed, with only short bristles on younger and lower portions.

Stem

Branching basally, somewhat leaflike, fleshy, elongated, flattened, erect, becoming pendant about 20-40 cm long ( mostly less than 30 cm long, but sometimes up to 1 m long) with prominent middle and side veins, margin crenate ('having the edge notched'), stem bases round in cross section and 10-18 cm long, flattened portions 10-75 cm long, 5-7 cm wide, brownish when young becoming dark green.

Fruits

ovoid to oblong, green to brownish red, 4 cm long, 2-2,5 cm in diameter.