Pseudorhipsalis is genus of cacti. This genus is often included in Disocactus. It is epiphytic, many branched, and elongated with flattened, serrated cladodes. In its early life, it stands erect, but soon becomes prostrate. It produces numerous flowers.[1]

Pseudorhipsalis
Pseudorhipsalis himantoclada
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Hylocereeae
Genus: Pseudorhipsalis
Britton & Rose
Type species
Pseudorhipsalis alata
Species

see text

Description edit

This genus is similar to Rhipsalis in that epiphytic species with small creamy white flowers are found. However, the flowers are different in that the ovaries and parts of the perianth are connected and the fruits have scales. Also, this genus is limited to Central America, with the exception of one species that ranges in South America. Areoles are small along the stem margin, usually at a higher level. From these areoles, new stems or flowers form. The flowers are small, short tubes or glasses - creamy white. Fruits are small berries that can be white or reddish in color. This genus is very scarce in cultivation.

Species edit

A 2017 study of the tribe Hylocereeae accepted the following species:[2]

Scientific name Distribution Image
Pseudorhipsalis acuminata Cufod. Costa Rica
Pseudorhipsalis alata (Sw.) Britton & Rose Jamaica - Greater Antilles (West Indies - Caribbean)
Pseudorhipsalis amazonica (K.Schum.) Ralf Bauer Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela  
Pseudorhipsalis himantoclada (Rol.-Goss.) Britton & Rose Costa Rica, Panama  
Pseudorhipsalis lankesteri (Kimnach) Barthlott Costa Rica

One species was transferred to the new genus Kimnachia:[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Nathaniel L. Britton; J. N. Rose (1 June 1963). Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Courier Dover Publications. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-486-21192-3.
  2. ^ a b Korotkova, Nadja; Borsch, Thomas & Arias, Salvador (2017). "A phylogenetic framework for the Hylocereeae (Cactaceae) and implications for the circumscription of the genera". Phytotaxa. 327 (1): 1–46. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.327.1.1.

External links edit