Accepted Scientific Name: Disocactus flagelliformis (L.) Barthlott
Bradleya 9: 87 (1991)
Origin and Habitat: Oaxaca and Hidalgo, Mexico (although suggestions have been made that it might be native of South America), and also reported as wild or naturalized elswhere.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Disocactus flagelliformis
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Rattail Cactus, Whip Cactus, Rat's Tail Cactus
FRENCH (Français): Cactier Queue de Souris, Cierge Serpent, Queue de Rat, Serpentine
GERMAN (Deutsch): Schlangenkaktus
ITALIAN (Italiano): Coda di Topo, Cactus a Coda di Topo
SPANISH (Español): Hierba de Alferecia, Floricuerno, Flor de cuerno, Flor de Látigo, Cola de Rata, Cola de Iguana, Junco, Junquillo, Nopalillo
Description: It is a slender, much-branched, creeping or epiphytic cactus cultivated as a houseplant for nearly 300 years. It one of the most popular of cacti for its ubiquity in modern collections and home use. The 'Rat's Tail' is also very free-flowering, and its long, slender stems bear multitudes of crimson-pink blooms and makes a good hanging plant. A larger specimen can be quite impressive, tumbling out of a pot, suggesting a waterfall. It is said that it deserves first place among the Cacti of easy culture.
Stem: Slender, vine-like, weak, ascending at first, soon prostrate or pendulous (or climbing), grey-green to fresh-green, terete, up to 1,5(-2) m (or even more) long, round in cross-section about 1-2 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 7-12 low
Areoles: Close set 4-8 mm apart.
**Spines: 9-14, tiny, bristle-like, reddish brown or reddish yellow, 4-5 mm long.
Flowers: Borne laterally, red to purplish-pink usually 5-8 cm long, 2,5-4 cm wide, double-sided, symmetrical (zygomorphic) instead of perfectly regular and similar to that of the Christmas cactus (Zygocactus truncatusSN|2950]]SN|2950]]), limb bilaterally symmetric, upcurved and slightly oblique. Tube almost straight.
Blooming season: It flowers in mid and late spring and bloom for several days,
Fruit:*** Globose, red bristly, 1 cm in diameter.
Bibliography: This is probably one of the easiest species to cultivate and relatively fast growing. A beautiful plant for a hanging basket, this cactus will grow happily in a window. Need a well drained soil. Requires strong sun to part sun. During the growing period the plants need frequent watering; from October to March and waterings should be rather abundant, so that the soil becomes completely soaked, but let dry between watering. Keep relatively dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C. It is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.
Growing tips: It can be trained on a support, allowed to grow pendant, or grafted onto a straight stem of some other species to produce a beautiful small weeping tree. Older branches over two years old, which become brown and unsightly, can be cut away to the ground without disfiguring the plant.
Propagation: It can be reproduced both by seeds and cuttings. During spring sow seeds in pots and place in gentle warmth. Young seedlings are tiny and they need several years to reach adult size, and require very careful watering. Alternatively, in late spring and early summer take cuttings (allow to dry for week) and insert them in pots filled with a rich cactus-mix and place in gentle warmth.
Traditional uses The flowers of this species are extensively used medicinally in Mexico. They are sold under the name "flor del cuerno" in the drug markets, for use as a medicine.
