Xerophyte

Seeds

2-2.5 x 1.5 mm.

Description

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a stout epiphytic or lithophytic, spineless cactus 3 meters long or more, much branched with aerial roots. This species has long been cultivated and has always been a great favourite on account of the ease with which it is grown and the abundance of large white flowers it furnishes. These begin to open in the early evening and are perfect about midnight. It is the most commonly grown of the Epiphyllum species. E. oxypetalum is closely related to Epiphyllum thomasianum and Epiphyllum pumilum, but quite distinct.

Note

Oxypetalum (Lat.) = with acute petals, refers to the acute petals of this species.

Flowers

Nocturnal opening in the evening, solitary, sessile, drooping and limp after anthesis, very fragrant, produced from subapical marginal areoles in flattened portions, funnel form (20-)25-30 cm long, (10-)12-17(-20) cm wide. Pericarpel nude, slightly angled, base green, 4-10 mm across, bracteoles (scvales) short. Receptacle tube (12-)13-18(-20) cm long, brownish, arching, bearing distant narrow triangular to lanceolate scales, bent forward 90°, ca 3-10 mm long. Segments numerous Outer perianth segments (or sepaloids) linear to oblanceolate, acute, often recurved 8–10 cm long, increasing in width progressively to the inside, pale green, pinkish red, reddish or amber. Inner perianth segments (or petaloids) oblanceolate to oblong, acuminate, (6-)7-8(-10) cm long and (2,5-)2-3(-4,5) cm wide, whitish. Stamens numerous, inserted on the throat, greenish white or white, slender and weak filaments, 2.5-5 mm and pale cream anthers, 3-3.5 mm. Style greenish white or white (or orangey, red), 20-22 cm long and curved, 4 mm thick, as long as inner tepals, stigma lobes 15-2, cream-colored or white, narrowly linear, 1.6-1.8 mm long entire. Ovary inferior, unilocular, ovules on parietal placentae. Generally dropped after anthesis.

Blooming Season

It flowers in late spring or early summer; large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in a season.

Stem

Erect, ascending, scandent or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stems terete, to 2–6 m long, flattened laterally, woody at base, flowering branches articulate, flat, leaf-like, elliptic-acuminate, 15-40 cm long, 5-6(-12) cm wide, thin; margins shallowly to deeply crenate and more or less undulate with slightly thickened median vertical axis.

Fruits

Seldom seen, oblong, 12-16 x 6-8 cm, purplish red, angled.

Areoles

Small, spineless.