Epiphyllum in Australia

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Epiphyllum "upon the leaf" in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include orchid cacti and leaf cacti.
The stems are broad and flat, 1-5 cm broad, 3-5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large, 8-16 cm diameter, white to red, with numerous petals.
The fruit is edible.


The Chinese call them mid night glory. I had to post these flowers photos to do justice to such a beautiful flower.,

This succulent plant blooms around mid night, and closes shortly after. So if you miss it, you miss it.

In Borneo, the Mid night Glory blooms once in a few years and usually only a single bloom. People regard it as an sign of good luck. They will buy the lottery when they see this flower bloom.

A friend holds a party and invites friends especially friends from overseas to see this unusual miracle.

My Dad had this plant, and he always took them upstairs into the house so we all could appreciate them. The bloom slowly opens around 10 pm so that we could watch before we went to bed. Then at mid night it closes. Never to bloom for a few years.

Once, my parents miscalculated the time, the next morning, Mum found that the flowered had already bloomed.

In Australia, however, my brother Joseph's plant blooms numerous flowers often. May be that is why I am enjoying my holiday in the land of the rich and famous. Joseph's plants have many flowers.

You can boil soup with it. My friend in Singapore has a few plants. people from very far away ask her for it. You can boil it in a sweet syrup and they believe it is a good medicine for asthma sufferers.

To me, it is a plant I think of Mum and Dad.