Epiphyllum pumilum

Britton & Rose

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Epiphyllum caudatum Britton & Rose

Phyllocactus caudatus (Britton & Rose) Vaupel

Phyllocactus pumilus (Britton & Rose) Vaupel

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Epiphyllum pumilum is an evergreen, epiphytic, bushy plant with semi-erect to pendent branches up to 5 metres long. The stems are flattened, 2 - 9cm wide and somewhat leaf-like[

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.
Epiphyllum pumilum has a wide range, is abundant, there are no major threats for the species and it occurs within several 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

C. America - Honduras, Belize, Guatemala; Southern N. America - southern Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Veracruz)

Habitat

Tropical dry forest and tropical humid forest; at elevations up to 600 metres[

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.

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Epiphyllum pumilum 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.