EPIPHYLLUM FLOWERS
The flower structure is typical of a cactus - several petals and sepals that grade into one another, a stigma with several lobes on the end of a style (seen in the centre of the flower) that leads down to the ovary in the base of the flower, and several stamens (in this case lying against the lower side of the flower) which carry the pollen-bearing anthers at their tips. Cacti of the genus Epiphyllum grow as epiphytes in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of Mexico, Central America and the northern part of South America. The stems of these cacti are flattened, with serrated margins and they lack spines (see the image below). Normally the flowers are white, but many varieties of these plants have been bred and sold as ornamentals with attractive flower colours.
Go
to Cactus main page? |
