Identifying tree in FL - #1

6 years ago

DD and her MIL are vacationing in south Florida. They sent me these pictures and asked that I help identify the tree. Looks like some sort of ficus to me (strangler fig?), but the long, flat, leaf-like objects in the second photo puzzle me.

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Tan Hua is Epiphyllum oxypetalum, a type of Epiphyllum as already identified. The blooms aren’t ‘stuck’ in a tree. Epiphyllums grow in trees.

It’s not really strange that this plant looks vaguely like a big Christmas cactus. They are both species of cacti and CC is also an epiphytic tree dwelling species. But the Epiphyllum stems are not segmented like CC.

Agree with GG on apps. being inaccurate. Particularly in this case where there are two species intertwined.

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Comments (12)

robo (z6a)
6 years ago
I’m wondering if it might be an epiphytic cactus or other succulent hanging out of a more normal tree?
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bbstx
Original Author
6 years ago
Robo, I think you may have nailed it! Now I know why the leaves looked familiar. They look very similar to what we call “Christmas cactus” and the spent flowers definitely look the same. Using your description, I found this picture Of an epiphytic cactus. Looking at where the flowers emerge and how the spent flowers look, looks the same to me.
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Sara Malone Zone 9b
6 years ago
It is both - the ficus and something else, such as the succulent.
bbstx thanked Sara Malone Zone 9b
bbstx
Original Author
6 years ago
Looking back at the first picture, I see the succulents leaves everywhere. That must be one HUGE cactus living in that tree...or maybe just lots of different ones.

Thanks all for help with the identification!
OllieJane
6 years ago
It looks like a Tan Hua Flower maybe stuck in a tree? The Tan Hua Flower only blooms at midnight, right? Or, maybe it's only at night time?
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Annie Deighnaugh
6 years ago
There is an app you can put on your phone and it will identify plants from pics you take of them....plantsnap?
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The plant has been identified. It is an epiphyllum. It is an epiphytic jungle or rainforest succulent that grows IN trees but is not a part of them.

btw, plant ID apps are pretty useless :-) But the Name That Plant forum here on GardenWeb has an excellent reputation for amazingly fast and accurate ID's
bbstx thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
martinca_gw sunset zone 24
6 years ago
The GW /houzz tree forum is a great place for your question. Those leaves DO Look like big Christmas cactus...strange!
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bbstx
Original Author
6 years ago
I have a plant ID app on my phone. I think it is PlantSnap. It was recommended to me by a Master Gardener friend. Apparently it has a huge learning curve. I tried to use it to identify plants at DD’s new house and I never could figure out how to make it work.

This question was cross posted in FL Gardening and Trees. I was unaware of Name That Plant. Trying to find a forum, if you don’t know that it exists and what its name is, is a gargantuan task. I’ll try to remember “Name That Plant.”
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Def. 2 different plants. I have pitayas climbing the live oaks in our yard.

The tree looks like it's being taken over by a strangler fig - so perhaps 3 plants would be more accurate?
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
For future reference the Name That Plant Forum is Here.
bbstx thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK