Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Equisetopsida > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Epiphyllum > E. oxypetalum

Description: Epiphyllum oxypetalum is an epiphytic cactus with erect or semi-erect, profusely branched, cylindrical, up to 20 feet (6 m) long primary stems. It is one of the most cultivated species in the genus. The primary stem is woody at the base and bears elliptic, leaf-like, scalloped, dark green branches that grow up to 16 inches (40 cm) long and up to 2.4 inches(6 cm) wide. The large white flowers are funnel-shaped, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, and up to 5 inches (20 cm) in diameter. They are nocturnal, very fragrant, appear in late spring or early summer, open in the late evening and close again at sunrise. Fruits are purplish-red, oblong, angled, up to 6.4 inches (16 cm) long, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) wide.

Flowering and Fruiting: June - September

Uses: Flowers are edible. Medicinal ( In Taiwan, the flowers are harvested at night and dried the next day. The flowers are boiled in soup and thought to be good for the skin. It is said that the plant can be used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis with cough, hemoptysis, uterine bleeding, and pharyngitis.)

Cultivation: Cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org