Disocactus phyllanthoides
Encyclopedia
Disocactus phyllanthoides, Nopalxochitl or German Empress, is a species of Cactaceae and is commonly grown as an ornamental cactus
pot plant. It is one of the three major species involved in creating the widely grown Orchid Cactus or "Epies". The others are Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum
.
. This species was among the first flat stemmed species to be described and the name recalls that it is similar to the first described flat-stemmed cactus Cactus phyllanthus today - Epiphyllum phyllanthus
. Some authors state that this plant first flowered in the garden of Château de Malmaison
, belonging to the late Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais
. This could explain some of the popular names such as German Empress, Deutsche Kaiserin, Giant Empress, Drottningkaktus (Swedish for Queen's Cactus). This story could be a myth.
. It has previously been placed in Nopalxochia, but not much support a generic status for that taxon. This species, as well as other of the former Nopalxochia species show affinity to Webereocereus which certainly make the systematics of this group even more complex.
Flowers campanulate, funnel-shaped, diurnal and scentless*, 8–10 cm long, 7–9 cm wide, produced on year old branches; pericarpel ovate with a few spreading bracteoles; entire receptacle 2,5–5 cm long, 7–10 mm thick; bracteoles more numerous than on the pericarpel, reflexed, green to blackish purple, naked in their axills; outer tepal
s lanceolate, opening irregularly before flowering, then spreading widely, rose-pink; inner tepals lanceolate-obtuse, ± erect, pink, paler inside; stamens declinate, as long as the tepals, white; style as long as tepals, white, stigma lobes 5-7. Fruit ellipsoid, 3–4 cm with low ribs, green at first, later red. Seeds dark brown. J. Borg (Cacti, 1951) report it as "sweet-scented".
and Mesoamerica
. This cactus was called Nopalxochitl by the Aztec
s with explains the former generic name Nopalxochia.
As with many of the early described cacti the history is somewhat unclear. Sims and Edwards state that it was discovered by the celebrated travellers Humbolt and Bonpland in April 1801, near the small village of Turbaco
, near Cartagena, Colombia
. Reported by Bonpland to have first flowered at Château de Malmaison
and at the Botanical Garden of Montpellier, France. However, this species was illustrated much earlier. Both Hernández (1651) and Plukenet (1691) illustrated the species. Said to have come from Colombia
, but may have originated in Southern Mexico.
Frequently used in hybrids. Together with Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum
forming the great trio behind the huge group of Orchid Cacti known today. Other species have been used, but not by far to the same extent as these three.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
pot plant. It is one of the three major species involved in creating the widely grown Orchid Cactus or "Epies". The others are Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum crenatum, the Crenate Orchid Cactus, is a species of cactus and one of the most important parents in creating the Epiphyllum-hybrids commonly cultivated throughout the world. It is cultivated for its beautiful diurnal flowers.-Etymology:...
.
Etymology
Phyllanthoides (lat.) = similar to phyllanthusPhyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
. This species was among the first flat stemmed species to be described and the name recalls that it is similar to the first described flat-stemmed cactus Cactus phyllanthus today - Epiphyllum phyllanthus
Epiphyllum phyllanthus
Epiphyllum phyllanthus, commonly known as the climbing cactus is a species of epiphytic cacti. It has no leaves, instead having stems that photosynthesise...
. Some authors state that this plant first flowered in the garden of Château de Malmaison
Château de Malmaison
The Château de Malmaison is a country house in the city of Rueil-Malmaison about 12 km from Paris.It was formerly the residence of Joséphine de Beauharnais, and with the Tuileries, was from 1800 to 1802 the headquarters of the French government.-History:Joséphine de Beauharnais bought the...
, belonging to the late Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
. This could explain some of the popular names such as German Empress, Deutsche Kaiserin, Giant Empress, Drottningkaktus (Swedish for Queen's Cactus). This story could be a myth.
Systematics
A distinct species related to Disocactus ackermanniiDisocactus ackermannii
The cactus Disocactus ackermannii is characterized by red or purplish stigma lobes with no white. If there is white on the flower or it is bell-shaped, it is a hybrid....
. It has previously been placed in Nopalxochia, but not much support a generic status for that taxon. This species, as well as other of the former Nopalxochia species show affinity to Webereocereus which certainly make the systematics of this group even more complex.
Description
Stems to 1 m long or more, branching, primary stems to 40 cm long, 6 mm thick, woody and terete at base, flattened at apex; secondary stems flat, lanceolate, acute, margins coarsely crenated or scalloped, obtusely toothed, with terete, stalk-like base, 15–30 cm long, 2,5–5 cm wide; areoles nude except for young growth; epidermis green or reddish, nearly smooth.Flowers campanulate, funnel-shaped, diurnal and scentless*, 8–10 cm long, 7–9 cm wide, produced on year old branches; pericarpel ovate with a few spreading bracteoles; entire receptacle 2,5–5 cm long, 7–10 mm thick; bracteoles more numerous than on the pericarpel, reflexed, green to blackish purple, naked in their axills; outer tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s lanceolate, opening irregularly before flowering, then spreading widely, rose-pink; inner tepals lanceolate-obtuse, ± erect, pink, paler inside; stamens declinate, as long as the tepals, white; style as long as tepals, white, stigma lobes 5-7. Fruit ellipsoid, 3–4 cm with low ribs, green at first, later red. Seeds dark brown. J. Borg (Cacti, 1951) report it as "sweet-scented".
History
This plant probably has been in cultivation since prehistoric times by the Indigenous peoples of South AmericaIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
. This cactus was called Nopalxochitl by the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
s with explains the former generic name Nopalxochia.
As with many of the early described cacti the history is somewhat unclear. Sims and Edwards state that it was discovered by the celebrated travellers Humbolt and Bonpland in April 1801, near the small village of Turbaco
Turbaco
Turbaco is a municipality in the Bolívar Department of Colombia. It is about 20 minutes from Cartagena de Indias and is one of Bolívar's most organized municipalities. Turbaco is known for its famous "Fiesta de Toros" in December to celebrate the new year. Currently the municipality is undergoing...
, near Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
. Reported by Bonpland to have first flowered at Château de Malmaison
Château de Malmaison
The Château de Malmaison is a country house in the city of Rueil-Malmaison about 12 km from Paris.It was formerly the residence of Joséphine de Beauharnais, and with the Tuileries, was from 1800 to 1802 the headquarters of the French government.-History:Joséphine de Beauharnais bought the...
and at the Botanical Garden of Montpellier, France. However, this species was illustrated much earlier. Both Hernández (1651) and Plukenet (1691) illustrated the species. Said to have come from Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, but may have originated in Southern Mexico.
Cultivars and hybrids
Some cultivar names are in use, but there are no evidence that these differ from the original species - 'Deutsche Kaiserin', 'Empress', 'German Empress'. However, 'Giant Empress' represent a somewhat larger clone with more uniform pink flowers.Frequently used in hybrids. Together with Disocactus speciosus and Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum crenatum, the Crenate Orchid Cactus, is a species of cactus and one of the most important parents in creating the Epiphyllum-hybrids commonly cultivated throughout the world. It is cultivated for its beautiful diurnal flowers.-Etymology:...
forming the great trio behind the huge group of Orchid Cacti known today. Other species have been used, but not by far to the same extent as these three.