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Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw.

Dutchman's pipe cactus

Native records: 9 botanical areas

Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, 6 more areas

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Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Epiphyllum oxypetalum

An epiphytic cactus in the family Cactaceae, native from central Mexico to Nicaragua. Flat, ribbon-like stems arch and branch, bearing a single very large, intensely fragrant white flower that opens for one night only — the source of the horticultural names '月下美人', '夜の女王' and 'Queen of the Night'.

Description

A succulent epiphyte with flattened, undulate, ribbon-like stem segments 3–7 cm broad that branch and arch semi-pendulously up to 1–3 m long. Areoles carry only fine bristles (spines effectively absent). In early summer each terminal areole produces a single large flower, 20–30 cm long, opening for a single night. Perianth segments are pure white; outer segments linear, inner broadly lanceolate, releasing a strong sweet fragrance. The flower collapses at dawn. Fruit an oblong reddish berry with black mucilaginous seeds. An epiphyte or lithophyte of seasonally dry tropical and subtropical forest, favouring bright half-shade on tree trunks and rocks along rivers and in secondary growth. Widely cultivated as an ornamental across the tropics and as a glasshouse houseplant in temperate regions; naturalised locally throughout the wet tropics including parts of Brazil, the Caribbean, southern China, Vietnam and the Pacific.

Habitat

Native to central, Gulf, south-eastern and south-western Mexico (WGSRPD regions) and through Central America: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. POWO summarises the range as 'Central Mexico to Nicaragua'. It grows as an epiphyte or lithophyte in low-elevation tropical and subtropical seasonally dry forest, secondary growth and riverside forest, in bright half-shade on tree trunks and rocks.

Distribution areas

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Belize

    • BelizeNative

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Brazil

    • Brazil NortheastIntroduced
    • Brazil SouthIntroduced
    • Brazil SoutheastIntroduced

  • China

    • China South-CentralIntroduced

  • Cuba

    • CubaIntroduced

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicIntroduced

  • El Salvador

    • El SalvadorNative

  • French Polynesia

    • MarquesasIntroduced
    • Society Is.Introduced
    • TuamotuIntroduced
    • Tubuai Is.Introduced

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Guatemala

    • GuatemalaNative

  • Honduras

    • HondurasNative

  • Marshall Islands

    • Marshall Is.Introduced

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Mexico

    • Mexico CentralNative
    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico SoutheastNative
    • Mexico SouthwestNative

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Nicaragua

    • NicaraguaNative

  • Pitcairn

    • Pitcairn Is.Introduced

  • Puerto Rico

    • Puerto RicoIntroduced

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Introduced

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced
    • Venezuelan AntillesIntroduced

  • Viet Nam

    • VietnamIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer
  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer

The same climate occurs in 133 areas worldwide, 109 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Epiphyllum oxypetalum is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.224, left column, line 31

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Dutchman's pipe cactus、Queen of the Night、Orchid cactus、Night-blooming cereus

Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Epiphyllum

Other species in Epiphyllum

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Belize · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    China · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cuba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guatemala · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Honduras · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Marshall Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nicaragua · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Pitcairn · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    French Polynesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    El Salvador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Viet Nam · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

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