Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), also known as Orchid Cactus, is a large epiphytic cactus native from Mexico to Brazil. It is by far the most popular and widely cultivated species from this genus of cacti. Orchid cactus blooms at night, since the flowers are predominantly pollinated by bats and large moths. They have large white star-like flowers to help their pollinators locate the blossoms by moon or star light, and many have very lovely fragrances. Pure white flowers, the size of a dinner plate, open as soon as the sun goes down and stay open all night, closing in the morning.

Orchid cacti are at the pinnacle of cactus evolution, having left the mundane process of growing on the ground and moved into the treetops to exploit that unique environment - the same one occupied by many orchids. Epiphyllum oxypetalum is propagated by stem cutting, division of larger plants, and from seed when available.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Cactaceae
Genus : Epiphyllum
Species : Epiphyllum oxypetalum

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ay) - The Cactus family.
• Epiphyllum (ep-ih-FYE-lum) - Upon the leaf, referring to the flowers appearing to bloom on the leaves.
• oxypetalum (oks-ee-PET-al-um) - Sharp petals.

Common Names:

• Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus, Queen of the Night, Night Blooming Cereus, Orchid Cactus, Jungle Cactus

Links:

• Flowers of India - Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus
• Plant of the week - Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus
• Top Tropicals - Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus

Image Courtesy of Yoel Yaron.

Hatchet Cactus (Pelecyphora aselliformis)

Hatchet Cactus (Pelecyphora aselliformis) is a cylindric cactus, native to Mexico, with flattened elongated tubercles, arranged in spirals, and 40-60 spines. It presents a heavy and fleshy root and grayish green stem, globular when young but becoming cylindrical soon, of about 10 cm high and between 5 and 6 cm. wide. The areolas are woolly at first and present a great amount of small, non sharp spines, joined together with the base with the tip free. The flowers appear on apex, between the wool of the young areolas. They measure about 3 cm. wide and are violet. It is a very rare plant, since it grows very slowly and send offsets after many years only. It flowering during the months of February-October.

Hatchet Cactus is a well known medicinal peyote sold in the markets of San Luís Potosí, Mexico, and is used as a remedy for fevers and rheumatic pains. Extracts have also been shown to have antibiotic activity.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Cactaceae
Subfamily : Cactoideae
Tribe : Cacteae
Genus : Pelecyphora
Species : Pelecyphora aselliformis

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ay) - The Cactus family.
• Pelecyphora (pay-lay-SIGH-for-uh) - From the Greek pelekus (hatchet) and phoros (bearing), referring to the shape of the tubercles.
• aselliformis (ah-SEL-lee-eye-form-iss)

Common Names:

• Hatchet Cactus, Woodlouse Cactus, Peyote, Peyotillo

Links:

• Flowers of India - Hatchet Cactus
• Cactus Art Nursery - Hatchet Cactus
• ZipCodeZoo - Hatchet Cactus

Image Courtesy of jolie2211.

Crenate Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum crenatum)

Crenate Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum crenatum) is a species of cactus and one of the most important parents in creating the Epiphyllum-hybrids commonly cultivated throughout the world. It is cultivated for its beautiful diurnal flowers. This species grows as an epiphyte in the tropical rain forests of Guatemala and Honduras. These rain forests have high humidity, and temperatures that are constant throughout the year.

This species has thick bluish-green branches that are stiff, strong, and upright growing. Also, they have deep notches at the areoles, and crenate margins. On these branches grow strongly perfumed flowers that are creamy-white to greenish-yellow, expanding 5-6 inches wide, opening at night, and flowering for many days. This is a very popular, and well-known species. It has been used in cross pollination with many other genera to produce countless fine hybrids.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Cactaceae
Genus : Epiphyllum
Species : Epiphyllum crenatum

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ay) - The Cactus family.
• Epiphyllum (ep-ih-FYE-lum) - Upon the leaf, referring to the flowers appearing to bloom on the leaves.
• crenatum (kre-NAY-tum) - Scalloped.

Common Names:

• Crenate Orchid Cactus, Divine Lotus (English)
• Brahma Kamal (Marathi)

Links:

• Flowers of India - Crenate Orchid Cactus

Crab Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)

Crab cactus (Schlumbergera truncata syn. Zygocactus truncatus) is a popular, winter-flowering house-plant native to Brazil, available in a wide variety of colors including red, purple, oranges, pinks and creams. In its native environment, these cacti grow on rocks or in trees where hummingbirds pollinate the flowers. The stems are segmented, flattened to round in cross-section, with weak or no spines.

The stems are graceful and arching and are an easy-care plant for most homes. Considerable breeding has been undertaken in Europe and the United States resulting in a wide selection of flower colours including red, orange, magenta, lavender, and white. Other characteristics which vary among cultivars are branching density, uprightness, phylloclade shape, flower shape, and bloom time.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Cactaceae
Subfamily : Cactoideae
Tribe : Rhipsalideae
Genus : Schlumbergera
Species : Schlumbergera truncata

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ay) - The Cactus family.
• Schlumbergera (shlum-BER-ger-uh) - Named for Frederic Schlumberger, 19th century Belgian gardener and cacti collector.
• truncata (trunk-AH-tuh) - Cut off.

Common Names:

• Crab Cactus, Lobster Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, Easter Cactus

Links:

• Flowers of India - Crab Cactus
• Missouri Botanical Garden : Plant Finder - Crab Cactus

Cochineal Cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera)

Cochineal Cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera) is a Mexican cactus which has thornless, pleasant to touch thick leaves. During summer hot day leaves warm up and their touch reminds of a warm hand touch. Its species name cochenillifera derives from the cochineal insects which live on this cactus.

The bright red body fluids of the insects are the source of the much sought after cochineal dye. Cochineal is the name of the crimson or carmine dye, once a major industry. This cactus can be grown as a shrub, and may look atractive, and the spines won’t do much harm since they are tiny and soft. On the fruits (and the ovaria too, the green part below the flowers), however, they are rigid, and tend to stick on you and penetrate in your skin. The flowers are the good part of this plant.

Bright red to crimson, with many very short petals, tubular, lots of stamens coming out of the tube and a long pistil. The flowers look like tubular buds, as if they are yet to open, but that’s how they remain.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Cactaceae
Subfamily : Opuntioideae
Tribe : Opuntieae
Genus : Opuntia
Species : Opuntia cochenillifera

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ay) - The Cactus family.
• Opuntia (op-UN-shee-uh) - Named after Opus (Greece), an area where other cactus-like plants were grown.
• cochenillifera (koh-ken-ill-EE-fer-uh) - Cochineal-bearing.

Common Names:

• Prickly Pear, Warm hand, Velvet Opuntia, Wooly Joint Prickly Pear, Nopales opuntia, Nopal cactus, Nopalea Grande (English)
• Bodaka Nivadunga (Marathi)
• Kallivakai, Puccikkalli (Tamil)
• Jemudu (Telugu)

Links:

• Flowers of India - Cochineal Cactus
• Top Tropicals - Cochineal Cactus
• Desert Tropicals - Cochineal Cactus