Description: Stems are 25 to 100 cm long, and may appear flat like leaves or have ridges. The flowers are about 30 cm. long. Outer petal-like parts of the 'Dolly Madison' cultivar flower are yellow or greenish yellow, while the inner petals are white, slightly ruffled and fragrant. The plant generally grows on tree trunks or branches forming clumps, but the stems may be vine-like and spread by "running". (Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
The juice is thought to be good for the skin. (Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
This plant is a cross between two natural species which are probably native to Guatemala and Mexico, although the exact origins of the genus Disocactus are unknown. Today there are many cultivars with a diversity of flower colors found in gardens throughout the world. They are commonly referred to as "epiphyllum" or "phyllocactus" cultivars. (Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
The flowers of some cultivars are added to soup in Taiwan (fresh or dried).(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
