Common Name: Dutchman's Pipe Cactus

General Information

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a much-branched, stout, epiphytic, shrubby plant with aerial roots. The primary stems are cylindrical, around 2 - 6 metres long, and can be erect, ascending, scandent or sprawling, Secondary stems are flattened and leaf-like, up to 30cm long and 10 - 12cm wide[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild and from cultivated ornamental plants for local use as a food and a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its large, sweetly-scented flowers that open in the evening[, , ].
Epiphyllum oxypetalum is widespread, common, and there are no direct threats to it. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. America - Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala north to southern Mexico

Habitat

An epiphytic plant, growing in tropical moist forests; at elevations from 200 - 600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Bats, Moths
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a warm climate species, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas at elevations from 75 - 2,000 metres[]. It is not tolerant of frosts[].
The plant is epiphytic or lithophytic. It grows well in full sun or light afternoon shade. It requires a compost rich in oganic matter and adequate moisture during the dry months[]. The plant requires shade during the hottest part of the day, a humus rich, free-draining soil and a pH below 6[].
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in many parts of the world[].
The flowers open of a night time and are sweetly scented[].

Edible Uses

The flower is rich in mucilage[]. It is often eaten in a vegetable soup[].

The purplish red, oblong fruits are edible but rarely produced, They can be up to 16cm long and 5.7cm wide[].

Medicinal

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[].

Epiphyllum oxypetalum is used in homeopathy and is also recommended as a treatment for urinary tract infections, for heart conditions such as the crushing pain of angina and for spasmodic pain and haemorrhage[].
In folk medicine, the plant has been used to treat the spitting up of blood sputum and heavy or painful menstrual periods[].
The juice of the plant has been used as a treatment for bladder infections, shortness of breath and water retention[].
Applied externally, it has been used as a treatment for rheumatism. It is also assumed to be an aphrodisiac[].

The main essential oils in the flowers are benzyl salicylate and methyl linoleate[].
The leaves contain saponins, phenolic compounds, steroids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids and resins, while reducing sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, phlobatanins and acidic compounds were absent[].
The leaves were found to have 14 mg/g protein, 4.6 mg/g lipids and 0.19 mg/g niacin dry basis.
Both acetone and petroleum ether leaf extracts have shown inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; the acetone extract was also active against Klebsiella pneumonia, while the petroleum ether leaf extract was active against Bacillus subtilis[]. All the leaf extracts were found to be ineffective against fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oryzae) tested[].
Epiphyllum oxypetalum extract was found to have a moisturizing effect on the skin. The extract increased ATP content, cell propagating activity and the yield of natural moisturizing factor in the epidermal cells[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
The plant is easily propagated from the leaflike stem cuttings[].

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