Epiphyllum oxypetalum

Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the Dutchman's pipe cactus,[3] princess of the night or queen of the night,[4] is a species of cactus. It blooms nocturnally, and its flowers wilt before dawn. Though it is sometimes referred to as a night-blooming cereus, it is not closely related to any of the species in the tribe Cereeae, such as Selenicereus, that are more commonly known as night-blooming cereus. All Cereus species bloom at night and are terrestrial plants; Epiphyllum species are usually epiphytic.

Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Epiphyllum
Species:
E. oxypetalum
Binomial name
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Synonyms[2]
  • Cactus oxypetalus Moc. & Sessé ex DC.
  • Cereus latifrons Zucc.
  • Cereus oxypetalus DC.
  • Epiphyllum acuminatum K.Schum.
  • Epiphyllum grande (Lem.) Britton & Rose
  • Epiphyllum latifrons (Zucc.) Pfeiff.
  • Epiphyllum purpusii (Weing.) F.M.Knuth
  • Phyllocactus acuminatus (K. Schum.) K. Schum.
  • Phyllocactus grandis Lem.
  • Phyllocactus latifrons (Zucc.) Link ex Walp.
  • Phyllocactus oxypetalus (DC.) Link
  • Phyllocactus purpusii Weing.

Description

The stems are erect, ascending, scandent, or sprawling and profusely branched. The primary stems are terete, up to 6 metres (20 ft) long, flattened laterally, and ligneous at their bases. The secondary stems are flat, elliptic-acuminate, up to 30 cm × 12 cm (12 in × 5 in). The stem margins are shallowly through deeply crenate and undulate. Stems appear to be waxy therefore cutin may be present. Cutin reduces water loss from stems. A gel-like substance oozes out of stem cuts. Stems contain much water-filled tissue.

Flowers

The flowers are nocturnal. They grow on flattened stems and are up to 30 cm (12 in) long and 17 cm (7 in) wide, and very fragrant. The principal odor components in the aroma are benzyl salicylate and methyl linoleate.[5] Pericarpels are nude, slightly angled, and green. Bracteoles are short and narrow up through ca. 10 millimetres (0.39 in) long. Receptacles are up through 20 cm long, 1 cm thick, brownish, and arching. The outer tepals are linear, acute, 8–10 cm long, and reddish through amber. The inner tepals are whitish, oblanceolate or oblong, acuminate, up through 8–10 cm long and 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) wide. The stamens are greenish white or white, slender and weak. The styles are greenish white, pale yellow, or white, 4 mm thick, as long as inner tepals, and with many lobes.

The fruits are oblong, up through 12 x 8 cm, purplish red, and angled.

  • Detail of the reproductive parts of a bloom
    Detail of the reproductive parts of a bloom
  • Side view of an open flower
    Side view of an open flower
  • Young stem
    Young stem
  • Cross section of stem under a microscope
    Cross section of stem under a microscope
  • Bud
    Bud

Systematics

This species is closely related to E. thomasianum and E. pumilum, but quite distinct from them. In 1909, C. A. Purpus collected a slightly different type in St. Ana, Orizaba, Mexico. It has carmine red outer petals and the flowers have an unpleasant smell, rather than being fragrant. It was originally named Phyllocactus purpusii, but is now included within this species.

Name

Epiphyllum from Greek epi- "upon" + phullon "leaf"

Oxypetalum = with acute petals

Range

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is native to Southern Mexico and to extensive areas of South America.[3] It is widely cultivated, with many escapes from cultivation in tropical areas, especially in southeast Asia.[6] It has become naturalised in China.[3]

Cultivation and uses

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is an easily cultivated, fast growing Epiphyllum. It flowers in late spring through late summer; large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in one season. This is a widely cultivated Epiphyllum species.

It is known to have medicinal properties in many Asian cultures, including India, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The plant is widely used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, bleeding conditions, and is also believed to have the property of reducing pain and inflammation.

References
  1. Hammel, B. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Epiphyllum oxypetalum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 6 August 2016
  3. USDA GRIN Taxonomy, retrieved 6 August 2016
  4. "Queen of the Night: The Flower That Only Blooms ONE Night A Year - Beyond Science TV". beyondsciencetv.com. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  5. Lim, T. K. (2014). "Epiphyllum oxypetalum". Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. pp. 638–640. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7395-0_43. ISBN 978-94-007-7394-3.
  6. Li, Zhen-yu; Taylor, Nigel P., "Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Candolle) Haworth, Phil. Mag. Ann. Chem. 6: 109. 1829", Flora of China
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