Epiphyllum ( lat.Epiphyllum ) - a genus of epiphytic cacti of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). There are twenty species [2] .
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Content
Title
The scientific name of the genus comes from the Greek words "επι" ("on") and "φυλλον" ("leaf"), which is explained by the structure of stems similar to leaves - the flowers appear as if "on the leaves."
The synonyms of the genus include the following names [3] :
- Phyllocactus Link - phyllocactus, or leaf cactus. In gardening, phyllocactuses are also called numerous hybrids involving epiphyllum (see section Cultivation ).
- Phyllocereus Miq. - phyllocereus
Distribution
Plants of this genus are common in the tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America , reaching Mexico [2] [4] .
Biological Description
The stems are long, branched, creeping or drooping, often with wavy edges; can be either flat (more often) or trihedral (less often). Spines in adult plants on vegetative organs are absent. Aerial roots develop on stems [2] [4] .
The flowers are large (up to 40 cm long), white, funnel-shaped . Appear in spring or summer. Both the flower tube and the ovary are covered with scales, hairs and small spines. They can be opened both during the day and at night [2] [4] .
The fruits are large, reddish in color [4] .
Usage
Plants of this genus are popular indoor plants.
Cultivation
Epiphyllums are usually grown as ampelous plants . For epiphyllums, loose sandy soil is best suited. In winter, plants should be kept cool and relatively dry. Optimum flowering requires good lighting. Reproduction - by seeds in the spring or cuttings in the summer [2] .
Plants of the genus Epiphyllum are actively used to create flowering hybrids by crossing with plants from various genera, mainly from the genus Hilocereus ( Hylocereus ). In horticulture, these hybrids are not commonly called phyllocactus ( Phyllocactus ) [4] .
Epiphyllum cultivars. From left to right: Epiphyllum 'Madras Ribbon' , Epiphyllum 'George French' , Epiphyllum 'Wendy' , Epiphyllum 'King Midas' . | ||||||||||
Views
Some species of the genus epiphyllum [3] :
- Epiphyllum crenatum ( Lindl. ) G. Don [ syn. Cereus crenatus Lindl. ]
- Epiphyllum hookeri Haw. - Hooker epiphyllum [ syn. Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. hookeri ( Haw. ) Kimnach ]
- Epiphyllum oxypetalum ( DC. ) Haw. - acute epiphyllum [ syn. Cereus oxypetalus DC. ] A species whose range extends from Mexico to Brazil . The stems reach almost two meters in length and 10 cm in width. Flowers are nocturnal, up to 15 cm in diameter, with a strong odor [2]
- Epiphyllum phyllanthus ( L. ) Haw. typus [ syn. Cactus phyllanthus L. ]
The name Epiphyllum phyllanthoides ( DC. ) Sweet according to modern concepts is included in the synonymy of the species Disocactus phyllanthoides ( DC. ) Barthlott [3] .
Notes
- ↑ For the conventionality of indicating the class of dicotyledons as a superior taxon for the plant group described in this article, see the APG Systems section of the Dicotyledonous article .
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Botany. Encyclopedia "All plants of the world": Per. from English = Botanica / ed. D. Grigoriev et al. - M .: Könemann, 2006 (Russian edition). - S. 332. - 1020 p. - ISBN 3-8331-1621-8 .
- ↑ 1 2 3 According to the GRIN website (see the Links section).
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Udalova R.A., Vyugina N.G. In the world of cacti. - 2nd ed. - M .: Nauka, 1983 .-- S. 72 .-- 144 p. - (Popular Science Series). - 250,000 copies.
Literature
- Epiphyllum // Eloquence - Yaya. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1957. - P. 131. - ( Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 51 vols.] / Ch. Ed. B. A. Vvedensky ; 1949-1958, vol. 49).
- Udalova R.A. Cactus family (Cactaceae) // Plant Life. In 6 t./ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyana . - M .: Education, 1980. - T. 5. Part 1. Flowering plants. - S. 353-361. - 430 s. - 300,000 copies.
Links
- Semenov D. V. "Phyllocactus"
- Epiphyllum (English) : information on the GRIN website. (Retrieved November 23, 2009)
- Epiphyllum (English) information on the Encyclopedia of Life website (EOL) (Retrieved November 23, 2009) .