View source for Epiphyllum

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Epiphyllum
|accepted_authority=Haworth
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Syn. Pl. Succ.,
|place=197. 1812
|year=1812
}}
|common_names=Climbing cactus
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Cactaceae;Cactaceae subfam. Cactoideae;Epiphyllum
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Cactaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>subfamily</small>[[Cactaceae subfam. Cactoideae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Epiphyllum]]</div></div>
|etymology=Greek epi, upon, and phyllon, a leaf, referring to flowers borne on leaves, actually phylloclades, leaflike stems
|volume=Volume 4
|mention_page=page 95, 96
|treatment_page=page 178
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Shrubs,</b> epiphytic or rarely epipetric, erect to pendent, many branched. <b>Roots</b> diffuse or adventitious along stems. <b>Stems</b> segmented, green, segments leaflike, narrowly elongate-oblanceolate, terete or 3-angled in narrow proximal portion, broadly flattened and bladelike distally, with prominent midvein-like axis, [30–]50–120+[–500] × [1.5–]4–5[–12+] cm, glabrous; ribs 2 or, on proximal portion and on juvenile stems, 3, rib margins (crests) crenate-undulate to shallow lobed [serrate to pinnatifid in other species]; areoles only in sinuses along rib margins (ca. 2–7 cm apart along rib), circular, woolly, stiff spines absent, sometimes fine, hairlike bristles present; areolar glands absent; cortex and pith mucilaginous. <b>Spines</b> usually absent from adult stems, present and slender on terete and juvenile stems. <b>Flowers</b> nocturnal [diurnal in 2 species], lateral on stem in marginal areoles, with long tube, salverform to funnelform, 8–38 cm; flower tube straight or strongly curved to 90°; outer tepals greenish [to yellow, white, or dull red] often tinged with red, 3–10 cm, margins entire; inner tepals white [to yellow], 3–10 cm, margins entire; ovary scaly, spineless, spiny, or with bristles or hairlike spines; scales small; stigma lobes 8–21, white, extending beyond stamens, ca. 10 mm. <b>Fruits</b> dehiscent along 1 side when mature, light green, red, or purple, smooth [to ridged or angular], ellipsoid to ovoid, [20–]40–100 × 20–50 mm, fleshy, spineless, spiny, or with bristles or hairlike spines; pulp white or slightly pinkish; floral remnant persistent. <b>Seeds</b> black, reniform, 2–3 × 1–2.5 mm; testa cells shiny or dull when minutely pitted. <b>x</b> = 11.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=tropical regions of s Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n and c South America.
|discussion=<p>Species 19 (1 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>The spineless, leaflike stems of this epiphytic genus make it easy to overlook as a member of <i>Cactaceae</i>. The usually white, nocturnal flowers with long, thin flower tubes, copious nectar, and strong fragrance suggest hawkmoth pollinators for most species.</p>
|tables=
|references={{Treatment/Reference
|id=kimnach1964a
|text=Kimnach, M. 1964. Epiphyllum phyllanthus. Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 36: 105–115.
}}
}}<!--

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-->{{#Taxon:
name=Epiphyllum
|author=Michael W. Hawkes
|authority=Haworth
|rank=genus
|parent rank=subfamily
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Cactaceae
|distribution=tropical regions of s Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n and c South America.
|introduced=true
|reference=kimnach1964a
|publication title=Syn. Pl. Succ.,
|publication year=1812
|special status=
|source xml=https://jpend@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation.git/src/f6b125a955440c0872999024f038d74684f65921/coarse_grained_fna_xml/V4/V4_340.xml
|subfamily=Cactaceae subfam. Cactoideae
|genus=Epiphyllum
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Cactaceae subfam. Cactoideae]]