Epiphyllum phyllanthus
| Epiphyllum phyllanthus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Epiphyllum |
| Species: | E. phyllanthus |
| Binomial name | |
| Epiphyllum phyllanthus | |
| Varieties | |
|
Epiphyllum phyllanthus var. columbiense | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cactus phyllanthus | |
Epiphyllum phyllanthus, commonly known as the climbing cactus, is a species of epiphytic cacti. It has no leaves, instead having stems that photosynthesise. It is thought to be pollinated by hawkmoths, as the flowers only open at night and produce a strong fragrance.
It is the most common epiphyte on the tree, Platypodium elegans, particularly growing in cavities in the trunk.