Epiphyllum

The stems are broad and flat, 1–5 cm broad, 3–5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers themselves are large, with diameters ranging from 8 to 16 cm, white through red, with numerous petals. These flowers have notably short, nocturnal antheses, blooming only at night, and wilting at dawn. The fruit is edible, very similar to the pitaya fruit from the closely related genus Hylocereus, though not so large, being only 3–4 cm long. The broad-leaved epiphyllum (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) is particularly well known species that bears large, strongly fragrant flowers. ==Taxonomy==

It was published by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1812. The type species is Epiphyllum phyllanthus Species , Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species: Formerly placed here • Disocactus crenatus (Lindl.) M.Á.Cruz & S.Arias (as Epiphyllum crenatum (Lindl.) G.Don) • Disocactus lepidocarpus (F.A.C.Weber) M.Á.Cruz & S.Arias (as Epiphyllum lepidocarpum (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose) • Disocactus phyllanthoides (DC.) Barthlott (as E. phyllanthoides (DC.) Sweet) ==Cultivation==

The plants known as epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums or just epis, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids of species within the tribe Hylocereeae, particularly species of Disocactus. In spite of the common name, the involvement of Epiphyllum species as parents of Epiphyllum hybrids is unconfirmed. ==References==