"Queen of the Night" Orchid cactus
Friday, The 3rd of October 2008
Please click on the pictures to enlarge
The Orchid Cactus, has bloomed tonight!
ummm .. & it stirs up a lot of emotions within….
Its heartening ..
Like my niece just commented on the images..
‘ A thing of beauty is joy for ever….’
& Tomorrow it will no more….
Its heartening ..
Like my niece just commented on the images..
‘ A thing of beauty is joy for ever….’
& Tomorrow it will no more….
Orchid Cactus, Jungle Cactus, Night Blooming Cereus,
Botanical name:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is by far the most extensively cultivated species from this genus of cacti.
Cactus grows as an epiphyte
Botanical name:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)
Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is by far the most extensively cultivated species from this genus of cacti.
Cactus grows as an epiphyte
(a plant that grows on top of or is supported by another plant but does not depend on it for nutrition) in the tropical rainforests of Guatemala and Honduras.
These rainforests have high humidity, and temperatures that are constant throughout the year.
Orchid cactus blooms at night, since the flowers are mostly pollinated by bats and large moths.
They have large white star-like flowers to help their pollinators locate the blossoms by moon or star light, and many have very lovely fragrances.
Pure white flowers, the size of a dinner plate, open as soon as the sun goes down and stay open all night, closing in the morning.
Stems are erect, climbing or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stems cylindrical, to 2-6 m long, flattened laterally. Also note the thick bluish-green branches that are stiff, strong, and upright growing. & have deep notches at the areoles, and crenate margins.
These rainforests have high humidity, and temperatures that are constant throughout the year.
Orchid cactus blooms at night, since the flowers are mostly pollinated by bats and large moths.
They have large white star-like flowers to help their pollinators locate the blossoms by moon or star light, and many have very lovely fragrances.
Pure white flowers, the size of a dinner plate, open as soon as the sun goes down and stay open all night, closing in the morning.
Stems are erect, climbing or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stems cylindrical, to 2-6 m long, flattened laterally. Also note the thick bluish-green branches that are stiff, strong, and upright growing. & have deep notches at the areoles, and crenate margins.
Secondary Stems (which look like leaves) are flat, elliptic-acuminate, to 30 cm x 10-12 cm, thin; margins shallowly crenate
{ having a scalloped edge or a surface with rounded projections} and wavy.
Flowers are produced from flattened portions, to 30 cm long, 12-17 cm wide, nocturnal, very fragrant.
Epiphyllums are without a doubt genuine cacti, but are more often labeled as "Epicacti" or "jungle cacti" to differentiate them from related desert flora.
The great size and shape of the flowers, as well as their often intoxicating sweet heady scent, comes from the wild Epiphyllum genes .
{ having a scalloped edge or a surface with rounded projections} and wavy.
Flowers are produced from flattened portions, to 30 cm long, 12-17 cm wide, nocturnal, very fragrant.
Epiphyllums are without a doubt genuine cacti, but are more often labeled as "Epicacti" or "jungle cacti" to differentiate them from related desert flora.
The great size and shape of the flowers, as well as their often intoxicating sweet heady scent, comes from the wild Epiphyllum genes .
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