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Glite Dictionary
genus Epiphyllum

genus Epiphyllum

9.9
A group of small tropical American cacti with flat stems that look like leaves and large flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˌɛpɪˈfɪləm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Epiphyllum
  • The genus Epiphyllum includes several species prized for their spectacular night-blooming flowers.

Examples

  • The genus Epiphyllum is native to Central America and thrives in warm, humid conditions.

  • Many gardeners enjoy cultivating members of the genus Epiphyllum because of their unique appearance.

  • The genus Epiphyllum includes several species of cacti.

  • Many gardeners love genus Epiphyllum for its beautiful flowers.

  • Many gardeners enjoy cultivating members of the genus Epiphyllum because of their unique appearance.

  • The genus Epiphyllum includes several species prized for their spectacular night-blooming flowers.

  • The genus Epiphyllum is native to Central America and thrives in warm, humid conditions.

Surface Forms

genus Epiphyllum singular
genera Epiphyllum plural

Morphology

genus + epiphyllum

The phrase combines 'genus' (a biological rank grouping related species) with the taxon name 'Epiphyllum', so its meaning — the genus that contains Epiphyllum cacti — is directly derivable from the constituents. Taxonomic constructions like this are cross-linguistically regular and follow straightforward compositional rules, making it understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Genus Epiphyllum may come from old Greek words epi and phyllum, meaning 'on' and 'leaf'. These cacti often grow on other plants and have flat, leaflike stems, so the name describes this group of plants.