THE GENUS EPIPHYLLUM AND ITS ALLIES. 
By N.L. Brirron anp J. N. Rose. 
INTRODUCTION. 
An examination of the literature relating to Phyllocactus con- 
vinces us that this name should be regarded as a synonym of Epiphy]l- 
lum. The latter genus, published in 1812, was based on Cactus 
phyllanthus. The genus Phyllocactus, published in 1831, was based 
on two species, Cactus phyllanthus and Cactus phyllanthowdes. 
Unfortunately the name Epiphyllum has been retained by recent 
authors for another genus, of which Epiphyllum truncatum, the crab 
cactus, is the type, segregated from the true Epiphyllum. For this 
genus Schumann once proposed the name Zygocactus, but afterwards 
abandoned it. This name should be restored. 
The subgenera Disisocactus and Pseudepiphyllum of the genus 
Phyllocactus of Schumann deserve, in our opinion, generic rank, 
under the names Disocactus and Schlumbergera, respectively. 
To this relationship we refer Wittia and two new genera here 
described and typified, as well as Epiphyllanthus, which Mr. Alwin 
Berger places between Zygocactus and Rhipsalis. 
The genus Rhipsalis will be discussed in a subsequent paper. 
SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT. 
EPIPHYLLUM Haw. Syn. PI. Succ. 197. 1812. 
Prytuocactus Link, Handb. Gewichs. 2: 10. 1831. 
Plants mostly epiphytic, generally with flattened, often thin, leaf-like branches; 
spines wanting, except on seedlings and juvenile forms; cotyledons rather large, often 
persisting for a long time; flowers large, regular, mostly nocturnal, the tube narrow; 
filaments slender and long; style elongated, white or colored. 
Type species, Cactus phyllanthus L. 
Epiphyllum ackermannii Haw. Phil. Mag. 6: 109. 1829. 
Cactus ackermannit Lindl. Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 16: pl. 1331. 1830. 
Cereus ackermannii Otto in Pfeiff. Enum. Cact. 123, 1837. 
Phyllocactus ackermanniit Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 38. 1842. 
Type LocaLity: In Mexico. 
DisTrRiBuTIoN: Mexico. 
InLusTRaTions: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 16: pl. 1331, as Cactus ackermannii. Curtis’s 
Bot. Mag. 64: pl. 8598, as Cereus ackermannii. Blithende Kakt. pl. 49; Cycl. Amer. 
Hort. Bailey 3: f. 1778; Dict. Gard. 8: f. 133; Karst. Deutsch. Fl. f. 6; Forst. 
Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 111; Riimpl. Sukkulenten f. 81—all as Phyllocactus acker- 
mannit. 255 
