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Useful Tropical Plants

Epiphyllum hookeri

Haw.

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cereus hookeri (Haw.) Pfeifer

Cereus marginatus Salm-Dyck

Epiphyllum columbiense (F.A.C.Weber) Dodson & A.H.Gentry

Epiphyllum guatemalense Britton & Rose

Epiphyllum phyllanthus columbiense (F.A.C.Weber) Backeb.

Epiphyllum phyllanthus guatemalense (Britton & Rose) U.Guzmán

Epiphyllum phyllanthus hookeri (Haw.) U.Guzmán

Epiphyllum phyllanthus pittieri (F.A.C.Weber) Kimnach

Epiphyllum pittieri (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose

Epiphyllum ruestii (Weing.) F.M.Knuth

Epiphyllum stenopetalum (C.F.Först.) Britton & Rose

Epiphyllum strictum (Lem.) Britton & Rose

Phyllocactus guatemalensis (Britton & Rose) Vaupel

Phyllocactus hookeri (Haw.) Salm-Dyck

Phyllocactus marginatus Salm-Dyck

Phyllocactus phyllanthus columbiensis F.A.C.Weber

Phyllocactus pittieri F.A.C.Weber

Phyllocactus ruestii Weing.

Phyllocactus stenopetalus Salm-Dyck

Phyllocactus strictus Lem.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Epiphyllum hookeri is an evergreen, epiphytic, bushy plant with stiff, arching to pendent branches. The stems are somewhat leaf-like, strongly three-angled basally ,then flattened to 75cm or more long and 9 - 10cm wide[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. The fruit is a popular wild food in eastern Guatemala[
1996
Title
Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Véliz M.E.
Publisher
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
Year
2008
ISBN
99922-2-551-3
Description
 
]. It is often grown as an ornamental.
Epiphyllum hookeri is widespread, common in suitable habitat, and found in numerous protected areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..

Range

S. America - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Caribbean - Trinidad; C. America - Panama north to Guatemala and central Mexico

Habitat

An epiphytic plant,

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.60 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Epiphyllum hookeri is a plant of humid tropical regions and is not tolerant of frosts[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
An epiphytic plant, it requires a shady position in a humus rich, free-draining soil and a pH below 6[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
The flowers open of a night time[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
1996
Title
Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Véliz M.E.
Publisher
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
Year
2008
ISBN
99922-2-551-3
Description
 
].The ellipsoidal to ovoid, purplish red, smooth-skinned fruit is around 40 - 70mm long and up to 35mm in diameter.

Medicinal

The stem is used to treat pain in the tonsils[
1783
Title
Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador
Publication
 
Author
de la Torre, L., Navarrete H., P. Muriel M., Macía M.J. & Ba
Publisher
Herbario QCA de la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Pontific
Year
2008
ISBN
978-9978-77-135-8
Description
 
].
It is a common practice in Guatemala to bind the tough, wide stems of the various Epiphyllum species around fractures. They act as efficient bandages, hold the broken parts in place, and are popularly believed to aid in healing them[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

The flowers are boiled and eaten to treat bradycardia or slow heart beat[
357
Title
Medicinal Plants of Kadazandusun, Malaysia.
Publication
 
Author
Julius Kulip; Sining Unchi; George Majawat.
Website
http://www.borneofocus.com/saip/vaic/R&D/article13.htm
Publisher
Forestry Research Centre, Sabah
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A report from the Forestry Research Centre at Sabah, listing the plants that are used medicinally by local peoples. Very brief list of Botanical names and uses. Also published on the internet.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Epiphyllum+hookeri>

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