Accession #: 200800139
Accession Date: 2008-09-09
Common name: Moonflower
Family: Cactaceae
Synonym(s): <i>Strophocactus wittii</i> (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
Country of Origin: Brazil
Description: This epiphyte climbs appressed to tree trunks with leaf-like, flattened stems and is found exclusively along the high waterline of black water rivers (Rio Negro, Vaup&, Apaporis) in the Igapo inundation forests of Amazonia. Ecophysiologically, S. wittii is a crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant. It bears white, nocturnal flowers 25 cm in length which emit a fragrance consisting mainly of benzylalcohol, benzyl benzoate, and benzyl salicylate. They exhibit an extreme sphingophilous syndrome as an adaptation to pollination by probably only two species of hawkmoth from the genera Amphimoena and Cocytius. The seeds, aberrant for the family, contain air-filled chambers and are water-dispersed. Thus, S. wittii represents the paradoxical life form of an hydrochorous epiphytic cactus which withstands periodical inundation.4
Uses:
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USDA Zone: 10a-11
Source: Chad Husby - FIU
Provenance:
Propagated vegetatively from Marie Selby BG accession 1978-2001: LOCATION: Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Curicuriari COLLECTOR: Madison, Kennedy
Restrictions:
Culture: