The plant
As of May 2020, Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species of Epiphyllum. The stems are broad and flat, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large and bloom only at night, wilting at dawn. The fruit is edible. It resembles the pitaya fruit of the related genus Hylocereus but is smaller, only 3-4 cm long. The name Epiphyllum comes from Ancient Greek words meaning upon and leaf. Epiphyllum belongs to the tribe Hylocereeae, most of whose members are climbers or epiphytes of tropical forests in Central and northern South America.
Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a species of cactus with a native range from Mexico to Nicaragua. It is also called the Dutchman's pipe cactus, princess of the night or queen of the night. Its flowers are up to 30 cm long and 17 cm wide, and very fragrant. The primary stems are up to 6 metres long, and the flat secondary stems are up to 30 cm by 12 cm. The fruits are oblong, up to 12 by 8 cm, and purplish red. It flowers from late spring through late summer, and large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in one season. It is widely cultivated, with many escapes from cultivation in tropical areas, especially in southeast Asia, and it has become naturalised in China. It is sometimes called a night-blooming cereus, but it is not closely related to the species of the tribe Cereeae that bear that name. Epiphyllum hookeri forms showy white flowers and is native from Mexico through Central America to Venezuela.
Scent of the flower
Epiphyllum oxypetalum releases its fragrance during infrequent, transient, nocturnal blooms. The flowers typically begin opening after 8 p.m. local time and reach full bloom at about 11 p.m. Emission of volatiles begins after 8 p.m. local time and increases 200-fold within 6 hours. Forty-nine volatile compounds were identified: 26 terpenoids, 5 fatty acid derivatives and 18 benzenoids. At full bloom, geraniol accounted for 72.54% of the total emission, followed by benzyl alcohol (12.96%) and methyl salicylate (3.75%). Geraniol and benzyl alcohol are emitted primarily from petals and sepals. Methyl salicylate is emitted mainly from the pistils. Geraniol, benzyl alcohol and methyl salicylate are known to carry chemical signals between plants and insects, geraniol especially for hawk-moths.
Classification
Epiphyllum was published by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1812. The garden plants called epiphyllum hybrids are artificial hybrids of species within the tribe, particularly Disocactus. In spite of the common name, the involvement of Epiphyllum species as parents of Epiphyllum hybrids is unconfirmed.
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