Schlumbergera kautskyi
Encyclopedia
Schlumbergera kautskyi is a species of plant
in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil
where its natural habitat
is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus
as the popular houseplant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus
.
Schlumbergera
in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic
organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges and at the ends, which are "cut off" (truncated) rather than pointed. Individual segments, which are very variable, are usually 2.2 – long by 1.4 – wide (although lengths of up to 4 cm (1.6 in) and widths up to 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) are known).
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
s", occur at the end of the segments. The areoles, which have brown wool and short bristles, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers are usually held slightly above the horizontal with the higher side different from the lower side (zygomorphic, specifically bilaterally symmetrical). They are purple in colour, about 5 cm (2 in) long by 2.7 cm (1.1 in) across.
When ripe, the four-angled fruit is yellow-green with red tones, about 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) long by 1.9 cm (0.748031496062992 in) wide, and contains about 150 dark brown or black seeds, each about with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in).
, in the state of Espírito Santo
, located in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Pico da Pedra Azul
. Plants grow at altitudes of 900 –. Because of their height and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal mountains produce high altitude moist forests – warm moist air is forced upwards into higher, colder locations where it condenses. Schlumbergera kautskyi grows either on rocks (epilithic
) or more rarely on trees (epiphytic
). It is listed as "endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of the limited area in which it occurs and the threat of residential development.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
as the popular houseplant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera is a genus of cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins...
.
Description
Schlumbergera kautskyi resembles other species of the genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera is a genus of cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins...
in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges and at the ends, which are "cut off" (truncated) rather than pointed. Individual segments, which are very variable, are usually 2.2 – long by 1.4 – wide (although lengths of up to 4 cm (1.6 in) and widths up to 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) are known).
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
Areole
Areoles are an important diagnostic feature of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. The areoles on cacti are clearly visible; they generally appear as small light- to dark-colored bumps, out of which grow clusters of spines...
s", occur at the end of the segments. The areoles, which have brown wool and short bristles, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers are usually held slightly above the horizontal with the higher side different from the lower side (zygomorphic, specifically bilaterally symmetrical). They are purple in colour, about 5 cm (2 in) long by 2.7 cm (1.1 in) across.
When ripe, the four-angled fruit is yellow-green with red tones, about 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) long by 1.9 cm (0.748031496062992 in) wide, and contains about 150 dark brown or black seeds, each about with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in).
Taxonomy
S. kautskyi was the last species of the genus Schlumbergera to be given a scientific name. In 1991, Horobin and McMillan described it as a subspecies of S. truncata, S. truncata ssp. kautsky; in the same year N.P. Taylor raised it to a full species. The specific epithet relates to the collector whose surname was Kautsky.Distribution and habitat
S. kautskyi occurs only in a small area, estimated in 2002 to be less than 500 km² (193.1 sq mi), of the coastal mountains of south-east BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in the state of Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
, located in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Pico da Pedra Azul
Pedra Azul National Park
Pedra Azul State Park is a state park of the state of Espírito Santo Brazil....
. Plants grow at altitudes of 900 –. Because of their height and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal mountains produce high altitude moist forests – warm moist air is forced upwards into higher, colder locations where it condenses. Schlumbergera kautskyi grows either on rocks (epilithic
Lithophyte
Lithophytes are a type of plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, litter, and even their own dead tissue....
) or more rarely on trees (epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
). It is listed as "endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of the limited area in which it occurs and the threat of residential development.