Epiphyllum oxypetallum (Brahmakamal) : Orchid Cactus- An interesting plant
Indian Botanists
Dr Ichha Purak Professor, Ranchi Womens College Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a very interesting and unique plant. It belongs to Family Cactaceae. It is commonly known as Night blooming Cereus, Queen of the night, Lady of the night as its beautiful Lotus like flower blooms late night. In India it is called as Brahma Kamal ( ब्रह्मकमल ) and is treated as a sacred plant. It is popularly known as Orchid Cactus as the flower has orchid like beauty and plant resembles cactus in habit. It is known by different common names in different parts of the world viz. Jungle cactus, Dutchman’s Pipe
Nomenclature
Botanical name : Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haworth The generic name Epiphyllum of the plant refers to flowers borne on leaf like phylloclade and the Specific name oxypetalum refers to acute petals. For systematics position click here.
Distribution
Epiphyllum oxypetalum plant is native to Sri lanka where it is known as Kaduphul ,it is believed that plant blooms rarely and that too late night. In India this plant has been reported from different parts like Mumbai, Bangalore,Chennai, Ranchi ,Uttrakhand etc. The plant flowers generally in rainy season from mid June to mid October. It has diverse distribution and grows wild in tropical rain forests. Epiphyllums are indeed true cacti, but are more often labeled as “Epicacti” or “jungle cacti” to differentiate them from related desert flora. A slightly different type is found in Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and is locally described as Phyllocactus purpusii . It is also found as a cultivated plant in some parts of America such as California either as Epiphyte or Lithophyte. Here the flowers bear carmine red coloured outer tepals and instead of sweet fragrance has slightly unpleasant smell.
Cultivation and propagation
It is propagated by rhizome, herbaceous stem and leaf cutting or layering. Prefers acidic soil and filtered sun light. It can also be grown indoor .To grow the plant , a Phyllocade is planted in the soil or is placed horizontally on soil. The cut phylloclade can also be dipped in water . In about three weeks adventitious roots come out , then can be planted in pot containing soil. ( Figure – 1 ) From margins of phylloclade bulbil like structures grow ( Figure-2).
Figure: 1-Cut phylloclade dipped in water 2- Adventitious roots coming out from cut end 3- Mature Epiphyllum oxypetalumplant in a pot 4- Phylloclade 5- Young flower bud emergingfromserrate margin of phylloclade 6- Bud with peduncle anda bloomed flower
Brief Morphological Description Stems are branched and erect, climbing or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stem cylindrical, 1-4 m long, flattened laterally. Secondary stems (which look like leaves) are flat, elliptical , acuminate, about 30 cm x 12 cm in size, with wavy and crenate margins (Figure- 3 ). Flowers are produced from flattened portion having brownish receptacle 13 to 30 cm long . Flowers are 12-17 cm wide ( Figure -4,5 & 6 ) bearing green slightly angled short narrow about 10 mm long arching bracteoles , outer tepals linear, acute, 8–10 cm long reddish to amber; inner tepals oblanceolate to oblong, acuminate, to 8–10 cm long and 2,5 cm wide, whitish; stamens many (about 100) white, filament delicate slender and weak; style greenish white or white, 4 mm thick, as long as inner tepals, when flower bloms, later on become longer and comes out of tepals ends ends pale yellow or white multilobed stigma, ( Figure -10). Round pollen grains are with thick exine (Figure-11). Fruit is oblong, 12 x 8 cm, purplish red, angled. The flower is nocturnal with fragrance dispering in its surroundings .The principal odour component in the aroma is of benzyle salisylate.
Figure: 7- Flower half bloomed8- Flower ¾ bloomed 9- Full bloomed flower showing many stamens and carpels 10-Multilobed stigma 11- Magnified pollen grain 12- Two flowerbuds on long stalks
Blooming of Flower Orchid cactus flower starts blooming after sunset from 7 p m onwards and takes about two hours to full bloom,about 8 inches in diameter ( Figure 7,8 &9) and remain open through out night. It closes in the morning before sunrise appear drooping on long stalks (Figure-12) Since the flowers are predominantly pollinated by bats and large moths. They have large pure white star-like flowers with lovely fragrance to help their pollinators locate the blossoms by moon or star light. (watch video)
Video : Brahmakamal.mp4 Blooming of Brahmakamal by Dr. Ichha Purak via Youtube Features of special interest (Peculirities about the plant )
This flower, named after Brahma, the God of Creation (as per Hindu mythology), blooms only for one night in the entire year, somewhere between mid June and mid October. The blooming lasts only for a few (10 ) hours. Brahmakamal is related with the story of how Brahma emerged from Vishnu’s naval in a lotus flower. It ia also believed that it is a sacred flower and does not bloom in all homes and in the homes where it blooms are considered lucky and is a sign or notation of prosperity. There are some interesting stories about the Brahmakamal. It is believed that it is the flower in which Hindu God Brahma resides and the place where it blooms will be the receiver of glad things. People who pray to God while the flower is blooming get their wishes fulfilled. There is a belief that the Brahmakamal should be gifted and should not be sold or bought from the market . If video recording of blooming is performed one can experience a very pleasant and shoothing music in complete silence.As its blooming is rare ,people invite their friends and relatives to cherish watch this wonderful and special event
Medicinal uses
The phyllocaldes contain some active ingredients and show antibacterial activity ( Upendra and Khandelwal,2012).The stem is also used medicinally to cure dropsy and cardiac affections.Vietnamese people use petals of the faded blooms to make soups which are supposed to have tonic and aphrodisiac medicinal properties.
Confusion about the Brahma Kamal flower
Some from northern part of India claims that the flower of Saussurea obvallata of family Compositae to be Brmaha Kamal. Which is a very beautiful flower of valleys in Himalayan ranges. However there are people who claim that flower of Epiphyllum oxypetalum (Orchid Cactus), which blooms at night, to be Brahma kamal.
References
Anderson, E. F. 2001. The cactus family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA Bentham,G and J D Hooker 1862-1883 Genera Plantarum 3 Vols. L Reeve & Co. London Cronquist,A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants. Columbia University Press,New York Engler,A and K Prantle 1887-1915 Die naturlichen pflanzenfamillien. 20 volumes Wilhelm Engelmann,Leipzig EpiBase – Selenicereus, Epiphyllum and other epiphytic cacti Epiphyllum oxypetalum From Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia Hutchinson,J .1973 The families of flowering plants . Oxford University Press,Oxford Ichha Purak 2011 An interesting plaant, Brahmakamal (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) : Published on Articlebase.com on October 22,2011. Upendra,R S and Khandelwal P 2012 Assessment of nutritive values,phytochemical constituents and biotherapeutic potentials of Epiphyllum oxypetalum: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences :Vol.4, Suppl 5, 421-425 ————————————
Author expresses her pleasure to have Orchid cactus ( Epiphyllum oxypetalum ) in her garden and she enjoy capturing photographs and recording of amazing event of blooming of Brahma Kamal, spine less cactus plant bearing beautiful white lotus like flowers arising on margins of phylloclade.
Anonymous
I have two of these plant.One is around one n half year old just started budding, now in monsoon. What extra care is required for good flowering. the plants are on the terrace.
As the plant prefers filtered sunlight, it should be placed in such a location where sunlight reaches at least some time in a day. Water logging should be avoided.
Got one plant with so many leaves and its about five year old. Noticed two buds either side of one leaf and within three days one has fell down..the other one is healthy and coming up. How many days it will take to fully open up?
I planted a leaf in dec 2012. I hs grown into multiple stems with many leaves. Last month 5 buds bloomed. There are 10 buds about to bloom in next 8-10 days. – Rohit
I had one plant for last 10 years but saw bloom only once in all these years but today morning I saw four buds . But only one bloomed at night remaining three didn't .Is it because I touched them ?
Does anyone here have an idea about the temperatures it survives in? I live in Virginia, and had left the plant out, and now that fall's almost here, should I bring it in or leave it out?
I have two of the Orchid Cactus Epiphyllum Oxypetalum…. both over 20 years old, they are big but have not bloomed in a few years… I'm thinking of breaking each of the plants into 4 separate ones and replanting… thoughts or comments on doing this?
Hi! My plant is nearly two years old, and it has been blooming quite frequently. It flowered twice in December. Is there any reason? I'm doing a project on its unusual flowering.
In the text above , it says the plant can be grown indoors..Will the plant bloom if kept indoors?? And I recently moved to a new house where I don't get direct sunlight,will it affect my plants growth??
team, this has grown in our garden at Bidar, Karnataka,,, and blooms in night,,, very big when fully open 2 wide palm covers.. we by now got over 40 flowers this season, rarest site for many , who visited our garden to have a glimpse …
HI I live in Surrey (UK) and have had this plant for last 4 years and last summer I had 4 flowers and this year 15. 5 was only last night. I have kept the plant inside my house and it has grown very tall about 7 feet in height and still growing. I am about to give it a good trim so if anyone in UK would like a leaf to grow then let me know I will post one to you.
I have one of the Orchid Cactus Epiphyllum Oxypetalum…. over 6 years old, they are big and bloomed eight flowers on 24.08.2015 together, at 8.00pm and lasted till 5.00am in morning. This is third when it bloomed but eight flowers for the first time. I am now making more ants out of this.
@Preksha, Please send us a detailed write-up so that we can post it on http://www.indianbotanists.com for wider circulation. Link will be shared to our social media handle too. Regards Team Indian Botanists
In regard to Dr. Ichha Purak and her well-appreciated article on Epiphyllum oxypetalum… This plant is not native to Sri Lanka, but broadly, Central America. The 'Phyllocactus purpusii' mentioned is an old, exact synonym (circa 1907) for E. oxypetalum – name is not in use today. The form mentioned in California is not found in Central America.
The only cactus originating from outside the Americas is an epiphyte named Rhipsalis baccifera, found not only in the New World but Sri Lanka and Africa – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhipsalis_baccifera
E. oxypetalum has been established in India and S.E. Asia including China for a long time, and no-one seems sure of its means of distribution. Other cactoids i.e. Opuntia species have been well established in Greece, N. Africa and Arabia, etc for a similar period of time.
Hii, even i have got fruit on brahmakamal plant, it looks like dragonfruit from inside, and has sticky and soft texture with seeds. How can we use this fruit?
Its bloomed in my balcony 2nd time..last time 2 flowers n this time 3 flowers..i have planted this last year. Very very happy to see flower. Its beauty cant express in words…
Hi all, can you tell me where do I or how do I get this plant in USA? I live in Florida and my friend in India gave me a plant. But customs didn't let me into USA. I am eagerly looking to have this plant in my garden. Thank you very much. Nirmala
DR PN Ravindran, ravinair.pn@gmail.com You are very very wrong. Brahmakamal is Saussurea obvallata (Asteraceae), a plant found only at high elevations of the Himnalayas.
Hi David I have a plant that is 30+ years old and in the last 3 years I been cutting 6 inch pieces from the cylindrical stems putting 3 inches in the ground and now have 20 plants.
My epiphyllus is blooming right now. It bloomed for the first time last August even though I have had it and taken the best of care for 10 years. I wish I could upload a picture. Whether it's Brahmakamal matters not to me. It's a blessed member of our family. Yes, I love plants that much.
Hi .. I have a brahmakamal plant , its 3 years old . it normally bloomed once in year , Bt this year it had bloomed already in September and again its blooming now … any reason … im jst curious to knw abt it
Hi .. I have a brahmakamal plant , its 3 years old . it normally bloomed once in year , Bt this year it had bloomed already in September and again its blooming now … any reason … im jst curious to knw abt it
Please don't mislead people with wrong information, Epiphyllum oxypetallum is not even our (Indian) native plant and it is cacti. Actual Brahma Kamal is in Himalayas (some people consider Nelumbo nucifera as Kamal but not Brahma Kamal). In the same way Sanjeevini or smrutha sanjeevini there are 30 to 40 species calling Sanjeevini, but actual species with experts opened that Selaginella bryopteris (Pteridophyte), still not conformed.
I have this plant for alst three years. It has blossomed only once with two flowers. After that it is only leaves no flowers. Now it occupies quite a lot of space on my window sill. Is it tempermental?
Never sell this plant as it is not good for your family. Generally it is gifted. In this flower lord brahma resides. This is the myth. So take care. May God bless you and your family.
Never sell this plant as it is not good for your family. Generally it is gifted. In this flower lord brahma resides. This is the myth. So take care. May God bless you and your family.
Never sell this plant as it is not good for your family. Generally it is gifted. In this flower lord brahma resides. This is the myth. So take care. May God bless you and your family.
Never sell this plant as it is not good for your family. Generally it is gifted. In this flower lord brahma resides. This is the myth. So take care. May God bless you and your family.
Rajnikant Patel – London UK I have a plant for 2 and half years and it had 4 buds all flowered one at a time, each night in September 2016. Floers are so so beautiful. Just seems out of this world I have pictures any one intereted call me on 00 44 208 933 9411
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