Disocactus

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Disocactus
Disocactus biformis (Phyllocactus biformis) 1.34.jpg
Disocactus biformis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Hylocereeae
Genus: Disocactus
Lindl. [1]
Type species
Disocactus biformis
Species

See text.

Disocactus is a genus of epiphytic cacti in the tribe Hylocereeae found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. [1] It should not be confused with Discocactus , which is a different genus.

Contents

Species of Disocactus grow in tropical regions either on trees as epiphytes or on rocks as lithophytes. They have two distinct growth habits. Species such as D. phyllanthoides have stems which are round at the base but then become flattened and leaflike. [1]

Many of the cultivated plants known as epiphyllum hybrids or just epiphyllums are derived from crosses between species of Disocactus (rather than Epiphyllum ) and other genera in the Hylocereeae. [2]

Description

The species of the genus Disocactus grow as epiphytes or lithophytes and are shrubby, profusely branched, hanging, up to 3 m long. The shoots are ribbed or flattened, 3-angled or flattened, ribbon-like, 3–10 mm wide, remotely crenate and leaf-like. The main shoot, which rotates near the base, is only flattened at the top, while the side shoots are completely flattened. The thorns on the areoles are bare or with white wool and bristles 4–9 mm long.

The large flowers open during the day, appearing singly or rarely in groups from an areole. They are of different shapes and sizes, 10–15 cm long. The flowers are funnel-shaped or tubular, sometimes zygomorphic and rarely wheel-shaped, receptacular tube curved, embraced by foliaceous scales or 1–few bristles 3–5 mm long. They are bright red, orange, slightly reddish pinkish-orange, light yellow in color, or white. The stamens are often in two rows, with the upper ones sometimes forming a clear throat circle. The sepaloid parts of perianth are 10–30 mm long and 3–7 mm wide, yellow-green; the petaloid parts are 6–8 cm long and 1.5–2 cm wide, orange, reddish at base. The stamens are asymmetrically grouped along the lower side of the throat of the perianth; the style is exserted, 9–13 cm long with 8–9 stigma lobes.

Berry-like ellipsoid fruits are formed that are 7 cm long and 3 cm in diameter, almost bare or covered with a few small scales. They contain broad ovate seeds 1.5 to 2.4 millimeters long and 1 to 1.7 millimeters wide. The seeds are brown-black to almost black and are shiny or, more rarely, somewhat dull.

Taxonomy

Pseudorhipsalis is sometimes included in Disocactus, but it is kept separate by the International Cactaceae Systematics Group. [1] Aporocactus is formerly included in Disocactus, but it should be a genus on its own according to molecular evidence. [3] [4]

Species

As of March 2021, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [5]

Scientific nameDistributionImage
Disocactus ackermannii (Haw.) Ralf BauerMexico (Veracruz and Oaxaca) Ling Jian He Hua Disocactus ackermannii (Epiphyllum ackermannii) -Jiang Du Hua Hui Jie Jiangdu, China- (9204820253).jpg
Disocactus anguliger (Lem.) M.Á.Cruz & S.AriasMexico Epiphyllum anguliger 2007-10-18 flowering IMG 4642 EDIT.jpg
Disocactus aurantiacus (Kimnach) BarthlottHonduras, Nicaragua, Mexico
Disocactus salvadorensis Cerén, Menjívar & S. Arias El Salvador
Disocactus biformis (Lindl.) Lindl.Guatemala, Honduras
Disocactus crenatus (Lindl.) M.Á.Cruz & S.AriasMexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras Epiphyllum crenatum 'Chichicastenango' 2.jpg
Disocactus eichlamii (Weing.) Britton & RoseGuatemala
Disocactus kimnachii G.D.RowleyCosta Rica
Disocactus lepidocarpus (F.A.C.Weber) M.Á.Cruz & S.AriasCosta Rica to Panama
Disocactus lodei Véliz, L.Velásquez & R.PuenteMexico (Chiapas)
Disocactus macdougallii (Alexander) BarthlottMexico (Chiapas) Disocactus macdougallii 3723131.jpg
Disocactus macranthus (Alexander) Kimnach & HutchisonMexico (Oaxaca) Disocactus macranthus.jpg
Disocactus nelsonii (Britton & Rose) Linding.Mexico (Chiapas) Disocactus nelsonii 2.jpg
Disocactus phyllanthoides (DC.) BarthlottMexico (Pueblo, Veracruz-Llave) Nopalxochia-01.JPG
Disocactus quezaltecus (Standl. & Steyerm.) KimnachGuatemala
Disocactus salvadorensis Cerén, J.Menjívar & S.AriasEl Salvador
Disocactus speciosus (Cav.) BarthlottGuatemala, Mexico Disocactus speciosus1MTFL.jpg

Synonymy

The boundaries of the genera in the tribe Hylocereeae have been subject to considerable change and uncertainty, which is reflected in the number of names which have been used for Disocactus: [1]

Cultivation

Related Research Articles

<i>Schlumbergera truncata</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera truncata, the false Christmas cactus, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests. It is the parent or one of the parents of the houseplants called Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus or zygocactus, among other names.

<i>Epiphyllum</i> Genus of cacti

Epiphyllum is a genus of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America and South America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

<i>Hylocereus</i> Genus of cacti

Hylocereus is a former genus of epiphytic cacti, often referred to as night-blooming cactus. Several species previously placed in the genus have large edible fruits, which are known as pitayas, pitahayas or dragonfruits. In 2017, a molecular phylogenetic study confirmed an earlier finding that the genus Hylocereus was nested within Selenicereus, so all the species of Hylocereus were transferred to Selenicereus.

<i>Pseudorhipsalis</i> Genus of cacti

Pseudorhipsalis is genus of cacti. This genus is often included in Disocactus. It is epiphytic, many branched, and elongated with flattened, serrated cladodes. In its early life, it stands erect, but soon becomes prostrate. It produces numerous flowers.

<i>Strophocactus</i> Genus of cacti

Strophocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. Its status and circumscription remain somewhat uncertain, with the genus containing one to three species. Molecular phylogenetic data suggest that it consists of three species, including two formerly comprising the genus Pseudoacanthocereus. With this circumscription, the species have different growth habits, but share similarities in their flowers, which are white and open at night.

<i>Hatiora</i> Genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae

Hatiora is a small genus of epiphytic cacti which belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae. Recent taxonomic studies have led to the three species formerly placed in subgenus Rhipsalidopsis being removed from the genus, including the well known and widely cultivated ornamental plants known as Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus.

<i>Disocactus crenatus</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus crenatus, commonly known as the crenate orchid cactus, is a species of cactus cultivated for its large flowers. It is a critical parent plant in creating epiphyllum hybrids commonly cultivated worldwide.

<i>Aporocactus flagelliformis</i> Species of cactus

Aporocactus flagelliformis, the rattail cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, and is the more cultivated of the two species in the genus Aporocactus. Due to its ease of cultivation and attractive floral displays, it is often grown as an ornamental potted plant.

<i>Disocactus phyllanthoides</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus phyllanthoides, the nopalxochitl or German empress, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae. It is commonly grown as an ornamental houseplant. It is one of the three major species involved in creating the widely grown epiphyllum hybrids or "epis". The others are Disocactus speciosus and Disocactus crenatus.

<i>Selenicereus anthonyanus</i> Species of flowering plant

Selenicereus anthonyanus is a cactus species native to southern Mexico. It is grown as an ornamental because of its nocturnal flowers and unusual, leaf-like stems. Common names include fishbone cactus, rickrack cactus, zig-zag cactus and St. Anthony's rickrack, and is sometimes referred to as an orchid cactus.

<i>Disocactus anguliger</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus anguliger, commonly known as the fishbone cactus or zig zag cactus, is a cactus species native to Mexico. The species is commonly grown as an ornamental for its fragrant flowers in the fall.

<i>Epiphyllum laui</i> Species of cactus

Epiphyllum laui is a cactus species native to Mexico and grown as an ornamental.

<i>Schlumbergera opuntioides</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera opuntioides is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are humid forests and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus as the popular house plant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus.

<i>Schlumbergera russelliana</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera russelliana is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte. It is one of the parents of many of the popular houseplants known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.

<i>Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri</i> Species of cactus

Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, synonyms Schlumbergera gaertneri and Hatiora gaertneri, is a species of epiphytic cactus which belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae. Together with the hybrid with R. rosea, Rhipsalidopsis × graeseri, it is known, in English speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, as Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus and is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylocereeae</span> Tribe of cacti

The Hylocereeae are a tribe of cacti. Most are found in the tropical forests of Central and northern South America, and are climbers or epiphytes, unlike most cacti. The tribe includes between six and eight genera in different circumscriptions. The plants known as "epiphyllum hybrids" or "epiphyllums", widely grown for their flowers, are hybrids of species within this tribe, particularly Disocactus, Pseudorhipsalis and Selenicereus, less often Epiphyllum, in spite of the common name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epiphyllum hybrid</span> Hybrid cactus

Epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, also known as orchid cacti, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids derived primarily from species of the genus Disocactus. These Disocactus species are not true epiphyllums, but they used to be included in the genus Epiphyllum.

<i>Strophocactus wittii</i> Species of cactus

Strophocactus wittii, synonym Selenicereus wittii, known as the Amazon moonflower, is a species of plant in the genus Strophocactus in the cactus family (Cactaceae), and is one of several species commonly called "moonflowers". It was first described in 1900 and is one of three species of cactus found in the central Amazon basin.

<i>Kimnachia</i> Genus of cacti

Kimnachia is a monotypic genus of cacti. Its only species is Kimnachia ramulosa, synonym Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa, which is native from southern Mexico to northern South America and also found in Jamaica.

<i>Epiphyllum chrysocardium</i> Species of plant

Epiphyllum chrysocardium is an epiphytic cactus native to Mexico, commonly called fern leaf cactus, golden heart epiphyllum, shark tooth cactus and shark fin cactus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN   978-0-88192-498-5 , pp. 221–226
  2. Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN   978-0-88192-498-5 , p. 286
  3. Cruz, Miguel Ángel; Arias, Salvador; Terrazas, Teresa (2016-04-01). "Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Disocactus (Cactaceae), based on the DNA sequences of six chloroplast markers". Willdenowia. 46 (1): 145–164. doi: 10.3372/wi.46.46112 . ISSN   0511-9618. S2CID   87086656.
  4. Korotkova, Nadja; Borsch, Thomas; Arias, Salvador (2017-11-03). "A phylogenetic framework for the Hylocereeae (Cactaceae) and implications for the circumscription of the genera". Phytotaxa. 327 (1): 1–46. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.327.1.1. ISSN   1179-3163.
  5. "Disocactus Lindl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-03-07.