Disocactus phyllanthoides
| Disocactus phyllanthoides | |
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| Photo: Ulf Eliasson | |
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| Species: | H. flagelliformis
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| Binomial name | |
| Disocactus flagelliformis (de Candolle.) Barthlott
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Disocactus phyllanthoides or German Empress is a species of Cactaceae and is commonly grown as an ornamental pot plant. It is one of the three major species involved in creating the Orchid Cactus or "Epies" widely grown. The others are Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum.
Etymology
Phyllanthoides (lat.) = similar to phyllanthus. This species was among the first flat stemed species to be described and the name recalls that it is similar to the first described flat-stemmed cacti; Cactus phyllanthus today - Epiphyllum phyllanthus. Some authors state that this plant first flowered in the garden of La Malmaison, belonging to the late Empress Josephine. This could expain some of the popular names such as German Empress, Deutche Kaiserin, Giant Empress, Drottningkaktus (Swedish for Queen's Cactus). This story could be a myth.
This cacti was called Nopalxochitl by the Aztecs with explains the former generic name Nopalxochia.
History
As with many of the early described cacti the history is somewhat unclear. Sims and Edwards state that it was discovered by the celebrated travellers Humbolt and Bonpland in April 1801, near the small village of Turbaco, near Carthagena. Reported by Bonpland to have first flowered at La Malmaison and at the Botanical Garden of Montpellier, France. However, this species was illustrated much earlier. Both Hernández (1651) and Plukenet (1691) illustrated the species and it has probably been in cultivation since prehistoric times by the Indians.
Origin and habitat
Known only from cultivation or sometimes naturalized. Said to have come from Colombia, but most likely it originated in S Mexico.
Systematics
A distinct species related to Disocactus ackermannii. It has previously been placed in Nopalxochia, but not much support a generic status for that taxon. This species, as well as other of the former Nopalxochia species show affinity to Webereocereus which certainly make the systematics of this group even more complex.
Cultivars and hybrids
Some cultivar names are in use, but there are no evidence that these differ from the original species - 'Deutche Kaiserin', 'Empress', 'German Empress'. However, 'Giant Empress' represent a somewhat larger clone with more uniform pink flowers.
Frequently used in hybrids. Together with Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum forming the great trio behind the huge group of Orchid Cacti known today. Other species has been used, but not by far to the same extent as these three.
Cultivation
Disocactus phyllanthoides is very easily cultivated. The soil should contain plenty of leaf-mould and the plant be given regular water and dozes of fertilizer in summer. Best kept relatively cool and dry in winter, 10-15ºC (50-59ºF). Plants held under proper conditions can produce flowers at least three times a year, but the main flowering period is spring.
Description
Stems to 1 m long or more, branching, primary stems to 40 cm long, 6 mm thick, woody and terete at base, flattened at apex; secondary stems flat, lanceolate, acute, margins coarsely crenated or scalloped, obtusely toothed, with terete, stalk-like base, 15-30 cm long, 2,5-5 cm wide; areoles nude except for young growth; epidermis green or reddish, nearly smooth. Flowers campanulate, funnel-shaped, diurnal and scentless*, 8-10 cm long, 7-9 cm wide, produced on year old branches; pericarpel ovate with a few spreading bracteoles; entire receptacle 2,5-5 cm long, 7-10 mm thick; tepals, bracteoles more numerous than on the pericarpel, reflexed, green to blackish purple, naked in their axills; outer tepals lanceolate, opening irregulary before flowering, then spreading widely, rose-pink; inner tepals lanceolate-obtuse, ± erect, pink, paler inside; stamens declinate, as long as the tepals, white; style as long as tepals, white, stigma lobes 5-7. Fruit ellipsoid, 3-4 cm with low ribs, green at first, later red. Seeds dark brown. J. Borg (Cacti, 1951) report it as "sweet-scented".
References
- Anderson, E. F. 2001. The cactus family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Epibase 19:58, 23 November 2006 (UTC)