Schlumbergera opuntioides
Encyclopedia
Schlumbergera opuntioides is a species of plant
in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil
where its natural habitat
s are humid forest
s and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus
as the popular house plant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus
.
Schlumbergera
in that it has leafless green stems, made up of distinct segments, which act as photosynthetic
organs. However, most other species have stems which are consistently strongly flattened, whereas in S. opuntioides, although young segments may be relatively flat, being 1.5 – long by 0.5 – wide, but only up to 9 mm (0.354330708661417 in) thick, the segments become more cylinder-shaped as they age, as well as becoming more woody. The plant may form a shrub up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall.
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
s", occur in a roughly spiral fashion on the segments; most young segments have many areoles but a few have only a small number. The areoles, which normally have bristles which become stiffer with age, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers are held so that they are more or less horizontal; the upper side is different from the lower side (bilaterally symmetical or zygomorphic). They are pink to purple in colour and about 6 cm (2.4 in) long with a diameter of 4.5 cm (1.8 in). The inner petals are fused at the base to form a "floral tube", which is white. In cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere, plants flower in the spring – March to April.
The fruit is green, more or less spherical with four to five ribs. The brown to black seeds are about 1.75 mm (0.0688976377952756 in) long.
", referring to the appearance of the stems.
The species was first described by in 1897 by Engelmann, but given only a provisional name, Epiphyllum obovatum. This was taken up by Britton
and Rose
in 1923, when they transferred the species to Epiphyllanthus. However the species was not named properly according to the rules of botanical nomenclature
until Löfgren
and Dusén
did so in 1905, creating the name Epiphyllum opuntioides. As with many other species of the genus (see Schlumbergera: Taxonomy), other generic names were used afterwards: Zygocactus (Löfgren in 1918), Epiphyllanthus (Moran
in 1953) and finally Schlumbergera (David Hunt in 1969).
Thus the synonyms of S. opuntioides (Loefgr. & Dusén) D.R.Hunt include:
, in the states of São Paulo
, Rio de Janeiro
, and Minas Gerais
, in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Mount Itatiaia in the Itatiaia National Park
, the Serra da Mantiqueira
in São Paulo, and the Serra do Ibitipoca in southern Minas Gerais. Plants are said to grow at altitudes of around 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) and 2400 metres (7,874 ft). Because of their altitude and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal mountains have high humidity – warm moist air is forced upwards into higher, colder locations where it condenses. S. opuntioides grows on trees (epiphytic
) or on rocks (epilithic
).
It is listed in the category of "near threatened" due to loss of habitat in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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 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...
s are humid forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and 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 house plant 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 opuntioides 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, made up of distinct segments, 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. However, most other species have stems which are consistently strongly flattened, whereas in S. opuntioides, although young segments may be relatively flat, being 1.5 – long by 0.5 – wide, but only up to 9 mm (0.354330708661417 in) thick, the segments become more cylinder-shaped as they age, as well as becoming more woody. The plant may form a shrub up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall.
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 in a roughly spiral fashion on the segments; most young segments have many areoles but a few have only a small number. The areoles, which normally have bristles which become stiffer with age, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers are held so that they are more or less horizontal; the upper side is different from the lower side (bilaterally symmetical or zygomorphic). They are pink to purple in colour and about 6 cm (2.4 in) long with a diameter of 4.5 cm (1.8 in). The inner petals are fused at the base to form a "floral tube", which is white. In cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere, plants flower in the spring – March to April.
The fruit is green, more or less spherical with four to five ribs. The brown to black seeds are about 1.75 mm (0.0688976377952756 in) long.
Taxonomy
The specific epithet opuntioides means "like OpuntiaOpuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
", referring to the appearance of the stems.
The species was first described by in 1897 by Engelmann, but given only a provisional name, Epiphyllum obovatum. This was taken up by Britton
Nathaniel Lord Britton
Nathaniel Lord Britton was an American botanist and taxonomist who founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. Britton was born in New Dorp in Staten Island, New York...
and Rose
Joseph Nelson Rose
Joseph Nelson Rose was an American botanist. He was born in Union County, Indiana. His father died serving during the Civil War when Joseph Rose was a young boy. He later graduated from high school in Liberty, Indiana....
in 1923, when they transferred the species to Epiphyllanthus. However the species was not named properly according to the rules of botanical nomenclature
International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants
The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants is the set of rules and recommendations dealing with the formal botanical names that are given to plants, fungi and a few other groups of organisms, all those "traditionally treated as plants"., Preamble, para...
until Löfgren
Johan Albert Constantin Löfgren
Johan Albert Constantin Löfgren , known as Albert Löfgren or Alberto Löfgren, was head of the botany department of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden around 1905. The plant currently known as Schlumbergera opuntioides is one of those he first named.-References:...
and Dusén
Per Karl Hjalmar Dusén
Per Karl Hjalmar Dusén was a Swedish civil engineer, botanist and explorer. As a botanist his interests included pteridology, bryology and paleobotany. He made botanical expeditions to Africa, Greenland and South America....
did so in 1905, creating the name Epiphyllum opuntioides. As with many other species of the genus (see Schlumbergera: Taxonomy), other generic names were used afterwards: Zygocactus (Löfgren in 1918), Epiphyllanthus (Moran
Reid Venable Moran
Reid Venable Moran was an American botanist and museum curator. He was curator at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.-References:...
in 1953) and finally Schlumbergera (David Hunt in 1969).
Thus the synonyms of S. opuntioides (Loefgr. & Dusén) D.R.Hunt include:
- Epiphyllum obovatum Engelm. ex K.Schum., nom. prov.
- Epiphyllanthus obovatus (Engelm. ex K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
- Epiphyllum opuntioides Loefgr. & Dusén
- Zygocactus opuntioides (Loefgr. & Dusén) Loefgr.
- Epiphyllanthus opuntioides (Loefgr. & Dusén) Moran
Distribution and habitat
S. opuntioides occurs only in 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 states of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
, and Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Mount Itatiaia in the Itatiaia National Park
Itatiaia National Park
Itatiaia National Park , established in 1937, is the oldest national park in Brazil. It is located on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, between 22º16’ - 22º28’ S and 44º34’ - 44º42’ W....
, the Serra da Mantiqueira
Mantiqueira Mountains
The Mantiqueira Mountains are a mountain range in Southeastern Brazil, with parts in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. It rises abruptly from the northwestern bank of the Paraíba do Sul River and extends northeastward for approximately , reaching a height of 2,798 m ...
in São Paulo, and the Serra do Ibitipoca in southern Minas Gerais. Plants are said to grow at altitudes of around 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) and 2400 metres (7,874 ft). Because of their altitude and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal mountains have high humidity – warm moist air is forced upwards into higher, colder locations where it condenses. S. opuntioides grows 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...
) or 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....
).
It is listed in the category of "near threatened" due to loss of habitat in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.