Epiphyllum phyllanthus

Epiphyllum phyllanthus, commonly known as the climbing cactus, is a species of epiphytic cacti. It has no leaves, instead having stems that photosynthesise. It is thought to be pollinated by hawkmoths, as the flowers only open at night and produce a strong fragrance.[2]

Epiphyllum phyllanthus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Epiphyllum
Species:
E. phyllanthus
Binomial name
Epiphyllum phyllanthus
Varieties

Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. columbiense
Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. rubrocoronatum[2]

Synonyms[3]

Cactus phyllanthus
Phyllocactus phyllanthus
Epiphyllum hookeri
Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri
Epiphyllum pittieri

It is the most common epiphyte on the tree, Platypodium elegans, particularly growing in cavities in the trunk.[4]

References
  1. "PLANTS Profile for Epiphyllum phyllanthus (climbing cactus)". USDA Plants. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  2. Thomas B. Croat (1978). Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Stanford University Press. pp. 640–. ISBN 978-0-8047-0950-7. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  3. "Epiphyllum phyllanthus". Discover Life.
  4. Andrade, J. L.; Nobel, P. S. (2009). "Habitat, CO2 uptake and growth for the CAM epiphytic cactus Epiphyllum phyllanthus in a Panamanian tropical forest". Journal of Tropical Ecology. 12 (2): 291–306. doi:10.1017/S0266467400009469.
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