Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri

(Haworth) Kimnach

Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 36: 113. 1964.

Basionym: Epiphyllum hookeri Haworth Philos. Mag. Ann. Chem. 6: 108. 1829
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 179. Mentioned on page 176.
Revision as of 20:00, 24 September 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Shrubs, to 200 cm, epiphytic. Stem segments light green, 40–120 × 6–9(–10) cm, margins obtusely serrate; areoles 3–8 cm apart along margins. Spines occasionally present in basal areoles, to 3 per areole, hairlike. Flowers salverform, 19–23 × 10–15(–16) cm; flower tube slender; outer tepals greenish white; inner tepals 8 × 0.5 cm. Fruits purplish red, typically 5-angled from the flower tube podaria, smooth between the ridges, oblong, 40–70 × 20–35 mm. Seeds 3.2–3.5 mm, minutely pitted.


Phenology: Flowering spring–late summer.
Habitat: Swamps, palmetto
Elevation: 0-10 m

Distribution

V4 342-distribution-map.gif

Fla., s Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America (n Venezuela), cultivated in tropical regions worldwide.

Discussion

Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri was recently reported by A. N. Lima (1996) from Estero Island, Lee County, Florida, growing on Sabal palmetto. The variety also occurs in the swamp at Fakahatchee Strand, Collier County, Florida. The population biology of this species, as well as its long-term persistence in the flora, need to be monitored. Details of its pollination biology are not known.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Michael W. Hawkes +
(Haworth) Kimnach +
Epiphyllum hookeri +
Fla. +, s Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America (n Venezuela) +  and cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. +
0-10 m +
Swamps, palmetto +
Flowering spring–late summer. +
Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Cereus phyllanthus +, Opuntia phyllanthus +, Phyllocactus phyllanthus +, Rhipsalis macrocarpa +  and Rhipsalis phyllanthus +
Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri +
Epiphyllum phyllanthus +
variety +