Is this an epiphyllum? It has thorns and is 3- or 4-sided. I showed the blossom here. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/508912/
This message was edited May 19, 2005 7:11 PM
Epiphyllum or ??
Yes, it looks like an Epiphyllum hybrid. It has a very pretty flower!
So epiphyllums don't just have flat leaves? Some of mine start out rather round and covered with short thorns and after growing a couple of inches become flat and have no thorns. I see all sorts of variations and have been asked if they are all epiphyllums.
Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake. I should have looked more carefully to see that all your leaves are angled. I am some leaves on my epi's which are 3- or 4-sided, but these plants have flat leaves too. Yours might actually be something else. I'll have to defer to the experts here. I have a Hylocereus undatus with spines and three sides, but I don't think that's it because that has white flowers. There is another thread here which is similar to yours. I'll see if I can find it.
First I like to say that I am not an expert. So I am "somewhat thinking out loud here":
The beautiful red Epiphyllum ackermannii or syn. Nopalxochia ackermannii ( not to be mistaken for the hybrid Epi Ackermannii) is, according to my Encyclopedia of Cacti (Cullmann, Goetz and Groener), a cross (natural?) between Heliocereus speciosus and Nopalxochia phyllanthoides. Now if one looks at the Heliocereus speciosus, it has multi-ribbed stems and spines.
I am guessing that the red Hybrid Epi Ackermannii was artificially created -
Heliocereus speciosus and the Nopalxochia phyllanthoides were used in early hybridizing. These were the early Phyllocacti hybrids or as they were called later, Epiphyllums.
N. crenata was later added with its white flowers. In order to obtain the really large Epi flowers Selenicereus were later added to the hybridizing program. ( grandiflorus etc) The early hybridizers were Knebel of Saxony and Haage of Erfurt /Thuringia.
Now if I look at these Epiphyllum and see 3 angled stems or bristles I could imagine that I am seeing some characteristics or throwbacks of the parents.
Perhaps somebody else could add to this?
This message was edited May 19, 2005 7:45 PM
And that would probably explain those whose stems start out multi-sided or even round and thorny but then become flat and thornless. It is all because of mixed heritage, but calling them Epiphyllums??
Yes, that is how I understand it.
OK for you Ursula....no fair that you took the words right out of my mouth....."First I like to say that I am not an expert."
That goes for me too George......I've been successful at growing these Epis over the years and figured out what works for me, but I really know very little about them. I think we are all learning together. I didn't know for several years back in the 80's what they were even called.
I also have some of the "odd" pieces that don't seem to go with the rest of the flat leaves.....but I don't remember where they came from or whether they were there from the beginning. I do know that none of those triangular shaped prickly pieces have ever bloomed. A couple pieces appear to have buds on them, but I've thought that before and they always turned out to be new leaf growth.
I'm wondering if I need to reread the ecology site information again and perhaps search out a book dedicated to "orchid cactus." I'm as guilty as the next person of lumping all of these together as opposed to learning which are which and what the characteristics are. That would be like me lumping all of my Euphorbia together under a generic name.........I need to get a book and do some reading because I'm just plain unschooled and ignorant of the facts!
Pssst.........I do know they all have very pretty flowers. :-)
Well this one did bloom. Here is the photo http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/508912/ don't know what I did wrong the first time but the link is nor working. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/508912/
I see I didn't have a space at the beginning of the link.
This message was edited May 19, 2005 7:11 PM
i have an epiphyllum that just bloomed during the winter of all times, its called a strictum lemair. here is a picture of it. i had it marked as an unknown eppy and someone identified it for me .
hello newbygardener and all others here. I too am no expert but have been reading up on epis since I bought my large collection . You will see the change in leaves often on these plants. I have over 400 epis and a lot have the 2 types both flat and triangular. I have had flowers on both types. The thorns on some do go up the leaves and on some disappear as the leaf grows. I am posting a pic of my original which is now around 9 years old. I cut it back every year and the growth you see is all from previous year. As you can see it flowers extremely well . I think it may be an Ackermanii Hybrid.
These plants are fascinating in their growth. There is such a large variety of leaves due to the years of hybridising.
I have 3 that when I purchased them , had long narrow rounded branches , but with trimming and healthier conditions, they now have much fatter, wider branches. . You will find, newby, that you will become addicted to these gorgeous plants . Check out the internet , there are some really informative sites and have a look at this site if still up. Jean http://www.cactus-mall.com/graydavisepies/index.html
