Disocactus ackermannii

Disocactus ackermannii is an epiphytic cactus from tropical forests in the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico. In cultivation, it has been confused with Disocactus × hybridus, a hybrid between D. phyllanthoides and D. speciosus.

This article is about the true species. For the cultivated hybrid often distributed under this name, see Disocactus × hybridus.

Disocactus ackermannii
From Curtis's Botanical Register, 1830
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Disocactus
Species:
D. ackermannii
Binomial name
Disocactus ackermannii
Synonyms
  • Cactus ackermannii (Haw.) Lindl.
  • Epiphyllum ackermannii Haw.
  • Heliocereus ackermannii (Haw.) Doweld
  • Nopalxochia ackermannii (Haw.) F.M.Knuth
  • Weberocereus ackermannii (Haw.) S.S.Ying

Description

The stems of Disocactus ackermannii consist of a short rounded base, about 10–18 cm (4–7 in) long, followed by longer flattened leaf-like portions, 10–75 cm (4–30 in) long and 5–7 cm (2–3 in) wide with wavy edges. The plant branches from the base and arches downwards, being altogether some 1 m (3 ft) long. The scarlet flowers have greenish throats and are funnel shaped, 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) long. Fertilized flowers are followed by green to brownish red fruits, 4 cm (1.6 in) long and 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1.0 in) wide.[1]

Taxonomy

The species was originally named Epiphyllum ackermannii by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1829. There are three sets of synonyms:[1]

  • Haworth's Epiphyllum ackermannii was successively transferred to Cactus ackermannii (1830), Cereus ackermannii (1837), Phyllocactus ackermannii (1842) and Nopalxochia ackermannii (1935) before the current Disocactus ackermannii (1991).
  • Phyllocactus weingartii A.Berger is an independent synonym.
  • Nopalxochia conzattianum was named by Thomas Baillie MacDougall in 1947. It was successively transferred to Pseudonopalxochia conzattianum (1959) and Nopalxochia ackermannii var. conzattianum (1981) before the current Disocactus ackermannii var. conzattianum (1991).

Two varieties are currently recognized. D. a. var. ackermannii has longer cladodes (flattened stem portions), 35–75 cm (14–30 in) long, and longer tepals, 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long. D. a. var. conzattianum has shorter cladodes, 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long, and shorter tepals, 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) long.[1]

Cultivation

In cultivation, Disocactus ×hybridus, a hybrid between D. phyllanthoides and D. speciosus, has been confused with D. ackermannii and is often distributed under the name "Phyllocactus ackermannii".[2]

Disocactus ackermannii has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

References
  1. Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5, p. 222
  2. Anderson 2001, p. 226
  3. "RHS Plantfinder - Disocactus ackermannii". Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 16. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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