Etymology
This specific epithet refers to the relatively small flowers of this species. History
F. Eichlam found this cacti in Guatemala and sent a living specimen to the U. S. which flowered in Washington on October 3, 1912. It had previously been collected at several occasions but passed as
E. pittieri. Unaware of its variable nature, Britton and Rose described the same species again in the same paper, under the name
E. caudatum. This time from a specimen collected in Oaxaca, Mexico collected by
E. W. Nelson in 1894. Later the same year, Vaupel transferred the two taxa to
Phyllocactus, an invalid name used in Europe by that time. ==Origin and habitat==
Description
Stems erect, later ascending becoming pendent, to 5 m long or more, woody at base, profusely branched, primary stems, terete for 80–150 cm, secondary stems and apical parts of primary stems flat (rarely 3-angled), elongated-lanceolate, terete at base, 10–60 cm long, 3–8,5 cm wide, acute to long acuminate, rather thick when mature, margins remotely toothed to indented, shallowly undulate or shallowly crenate; epidermis green. Flowers 10–15 cm long, nocturnal and fragrant; pericarpel ca 12 mm long, 8 mm thick, green, bracteoles 1 mm long, orbicular, reddish, nude or with 1 bristle, less than 1 mm long; receptacle 5–7 cm long, 5 mm thick, greenish white to reddish, bracteoles few, very small, ascending and appressed, without spines or hairs, red: outer petals linear, 4–9 cm long, ca 5 mm wide, greenish or reddish, acute; inner petals white, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate, 3–6 cm long, white; stamens inserted in 2 zones, white, anthers creamy white; style slender, 4–9 cm long, white. Fruit ovoid, 2,5 cm thick, brilliant cerice, 5-7 angled, bracteoles few, ascending, pulp white, sweet, seeds minute, black. ==References==