Epiphyllums are in fact hybrids of the epiphytic cacti species endemic in South and Central America and Mexico. It belongs to the Caryophyllales order of the Plantae kingdom. It is a genus of 19 species in the cactus family called Cactaceae. In Greek, the term epiphyllum means "upon the leaf". This genus has 2 synonyms: Phyllocereus Miq and Phyllocactus Link.
In 1813, Adrian Hardy Haworth (1767-1833), an English botanist, first described the Epiphyllum phyllanthus and consequently established the term Epiphyllum as the official name for the genus. In 1820, however, German botanist J.H. Friedrich Link named the same genus Phyllocactus phyllanthus, not aware that Haworth had already described the plant. Since the first name published was Epiphyllum phyllanthus, it became the official name for the genus and the term phyllocactus became the synonym for epiphyllum.
Very popular as house plants, Epiphyllums have numerous cultivars and hybrids. The stems are flat and broad, 3 mm to 5 mm thick and 1 cm to 5 cm broad. It usually has lobed edges. Its flowers are bulky, with an 8 cm to 16 cm diameter, red to white in colour and with copious petals. The fruit is safe to eat. It is not so big, being only 3cm to 4cm long. It looks very similar to the pitaya fruit which came from Hylocereus, a closely related genus. Some species of Epiphyllum are added to some versions of the Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink.
Unlike most desert cacti, Epiphyllum species are not covered with spines. However, they have tiny spines or hair bristles in the areolas.
One of the most popular species of epiphyllum is the Epiphyllum oxypetalum (or broad-leaved epiphyllum). It bears big, strongly scented flowers, which bloom only for one night.
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