For the genus Epiphyllum Pfeiff., see its synonym Schlumbergera.

Epiphyllum
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Hylocereeae
Genus:	Epiphyllum Haw.
Species
About 19 species, including: Epiphyllum anguliger Epiphyllum caudatum Epiphyllum chrysocardium Epiphyllum crenatum Epiphyllum guatemalense Epiphyllum hookeri Epiphyllum laui Epiphyllum lepidocarpum Epiphyllum macropterum Epiphyllum oxypetalum Epiphyllum phyllanthus Epiphyllum pumilum Epiphyllum thomasianum

Epiphyllum (pronounced /ˌɛpɨˈfɪləm/;^[1] "upon the leaf" in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

The stems are broad and flat, 1-5 cm broad, 3-5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large, 8-16 cm diameter, white to red, with numerous petals.

The fruit is edible, very similar to the pitaya fruit from the closely related genus Hylocereus, though not so large, being only 3-4 cm long.

Epiphyllums are popular house plants, with numerous hybrids and cultivars. The broad-leaved epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is particularly well-known. It bears large, strongly fragrant flowers, that bloom for a single night only.

The genus has 2 synonyms: Phyllocactus Link and Phyllocereus Miq..

Epiphyllum species are added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca.^[2]

[edit] External links

• EpiForums - Discussions on Epiphyllum species and hybrids
• Cactiguide - Epiphyllum
• Epi Species (GotEpis.com), a comprehensive list of genera of epiphytic cacti.
• (Mattslandscape.com), Hundreds of pictures and full descriptions of Epiphyllum species and hybrid cultivers.

[edit] References