Epiphyllum phyllanthus
| 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 | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| Cactus 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]
It is the most common epiphyte on the tree, Platypodium elegans, particularly growing in cavities in the trunk.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "PLANTS Profile for Epiphyllum phyllanthus (climbing cactus)". USDA Plants. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
- ^ a b Thomas B. Croat (1978). Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Stanford University Press. pp. 640–. ISBN 978-0-8047-0950-7. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ "Epiphyllum phyllanthus". Discover Life.
- ^ 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.
External links
[edit]- Epiphyllum phyllanthus at Discover Life, including photographs.