Synonymy
Cereus oxypetalus de Candolle (1828) Prodr. 3:470
Epiphyllum oxypetalum (de Candolle) Howorth (1829) Phil. Mag. 6:109
Cereus latifrons Pfeiffer (1838) Enom. cact. 125
Phyllocactus oxypetalus (de Candolle) Link in Walpers (1843) Repert. Bot. 2:341
Phyllocactus latifrons (Pfeiffer)  Link in Walpers (1843) Repert. Bot. 2:341
Phyllocactus grandis Lemaire (1847) Fl. Serr. 3:225. b.
Phyllocactus guyanensis Brongnart in labouret (1853) Monogr. Cact. 416
Epiphyllum acuminatum K. Schumann in Martius (1890) Fl. Bras. 4:222
Phyllocactus acuminatus (K. Schumann) K. Schumann (1897) Gesamtb. Kakt. 213
Phyllocactus purpursii Weingart (1907) Moatsschr. Kakteenk. 17:34
Epiphyllum grande (Lemaire) Britton & Rose (1913) Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16:257
Epiphyllum oxypetalum v. purpusii (Weingart) Backeberg (1952) Die Cactac. 2:747

Ethymology
Oxypetalum (Lat.) = with acute petals, refers to the acute tepals of this species.

History
This species was originally described from cultivated material and its true place of origin has never been known.

Description
Stems erect, ascending, scandent or sprawling, profusely branched, primary stems terete, to 2-6 m long, flattened laterally, ligneous at base, secondary stems flat, elliptic-acuminate, to 30 cm x 10-12 cm, thin; margins shallowly to deeply crenate and more or less undulate.
Flowers produced from flattened portions, to 30 cm cm long, 12-17 cm wide, nocturnal, very fragrant; pericarpel nude, slightly angled, green, bracteoles short; receptacle 13-20 cm long, 1 cm thick, brownish, more or les curved, braceoles narrow, ca 10 mm long; outer tepals linear, acute, 8-10 cm long reddish to amber; inner tepals lanceolate to oblong, to 8-10 cm long and 2,5 cm wide, whitish; stamens greenish, slender and weak; style greensih, 4 mm thick, lobes many, pale yellow, as long as inner tepals.
Fruit oblong, 12 x 8 cm, purplish red, angled.

Origin and habitat
Mexico to Venezuela & Brazil.  Epiphytic or lithophytic. 75-2.000 m alt. Widely cultivated and escaped in many places and its true origin has never been fully understood.

Systematics
This species is closely related to E. thomasianum and E. pumilum, but quite distinct.

Cultivation
An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 10ºC (50ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stuimulate budding. Flowers in late spring or early summer and large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in a season.

This is the most commonly grown of the Epiphyllum species and known under several nick-names such as; Night Blooming Cereus, Dutchman's Pipe and Queen of the Night.