Epiphyllum anguliger, commonly known as the fishbone cactus, is a cactus

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...

 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 native to Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

. The species is commonly grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, fragrant flowers in the fall.

Etymology

This species is named for its deeply toothed stems ("anguliger" = "angle bearing") which sometimes make a perfect rectangle.

History

This plant was first distributed by the Horticultural Society of London which obtained it from the collector, T. Hartweg, in 1846.

Origin and habitat

C & S Mexico (Jalisco

Jalisco

Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...

, Nayarit

Nayarit

Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...

, Colima

Colima

Colima is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima....

, Guerrero

Guerrero

Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....

, and Matanego). Epiphytic in evergreen oak forests.

Systematics

A very variable species but rather distinct and recognition of subspecific taxa seems unnecessary. Most closely related to 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:...

and Epiphyllum laui

Epiphyllum laui

Epiphyllum laui is a cactus species native to Mexico. The species is grown as an ornamental. Unfortunately most stock in cultivation seems to be infected with virus.-History:...

.

Cultivation

An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should be kept at 16–25 °C (60.8–77 F), it may drop to 10–15 °C (50–59 F) for shorter periods. Best grown in semi-shade. Flowers in late autumn or early winter.

Description

Stems profusely branched, primary stems terete at base, often woody, apical part and secondary stems flat and rather succulent, 20–30 cm long, 3–5 cm wide, deeply lobed, often to near midrib, the lobes rectangular to obtuse or rounded; areoles small nude or with 1-2 white bristles; epidermis green, smooth. Flowers 6–20 cm long, 6–7 cm wide, nocturnal, strongly sweet-scented *; pericarpel with podarium

Tubercle

A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection, but it has slightly different meaning depending on which family of plants or animals it is used to refer to....

; receptacle 8–16 cm long, 4 mm thick, pale yellow, greenish or pinkish, bracteoles few, minute, linear and green, adpressed; outer tepals 10, linear to linear-lanceolate, acute, spreading or reflexed, 4–5 cm long, lemon yellow to brownish yellow; inner tepals lanceolate to ovate, acute or acuminate, white, sometimes toothed, as long as outer tepals; stamens in two rows, white, erect to subdeclinate, nearly as long as tepals; style longer than inner tepals, white; stigma lobes 8-11, linear. Fruit ovoid, brownish, greenish or yellowish, 3–4 cm thick.

Cultivars & hybrids

• 'El Tecolote' WC (REDC) 1997. E. anguliger x 'Bonanza Belle'. Inner tepals creamy white; outer tepals lemon yellow or golden bronze, similar to the species. Nocturnal, but stays open until noon the next day. Medium sized. Small, flat, deeply lobed stems.
• 'Jetz' WC (REDC) 1997. E. anguliger x 'Bonanza Bell'. Nocturnal fragrant flower with inner tepals cream, tips lemon yellow, acute and pencil line lemon yellow, ruffled margins, two next rows yellower, 4th and 5th rows solid lemon yellow; outer tepals bronze with yellow to red-orange midstripe. Overlapping wide form. Small plant with thick, flat stems, margins deeply lobed. (medium-large)
• 'What Luck'

WC (REDC) 1997. E. anguliger x 'Bonanza Belle'. Persimon orange, darker at edges, outer tepals rusty orange, overlapping, wide form. Style and stamens light orange. Flower medium sized. Stems small, flat, deeply lobed.

• E. anguliger 'Beahmianum'

Collected by Thomas MacDougall in 1967, in Oaxaca, Mexico. Flowers white with a lavender-pink throat.

• E. anguliger 'Gertrudianum'

Flowers shorter than in most clones, 6-7,5 cm long and 12 cm wide. Strong grower and a prolific bloomer.