Epiphyllum hookeri
Haw.
Cactaceae
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:
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 Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, 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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
