Schlumbergera russelliana
Encyclopedia
Schlumbergera russelliana 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 moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte
. It is one of the parents of many of the popular houseplants 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 a small number of notches along their edges. Individual segments are about 1 – long by 0.8 – wide.
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
s", occur in the notches at the side of a segment and at the end. The areoles, which bristles up to 5 mm (0.196850393700787 in) long, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers hang downwards and are radially symmetrical (regular). They are about 5 cm (2 in) long by 3 – across. The tepal
s, which are of various shades of pink, are arranged in two groups, giving the appearance of a "flower within a flower". The inner tepals are longer and fused together at the base to form a floral tube about 3 cm (1.2 in) long; nectar is produced at the base of this tube. Plants flower in the spring; when cultivated in the Northern Hemisphere the flowering period is February to April.
A characteristic of the genus Schlumbergera is that the many stamen
s are arranged in two series: the inner stamens form a ring around the style; the outer stamens arise from the floral tube. The stamens are pale pink wih pink pollen. The style has six to eight lobes at its end and is darker pink.
The fruit is greenish-yellow, with four to five ribs. The shiny seeds are dark brown, each with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in).
, whose patron was John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
. It was first named in 1839 by W.J. Hooker as Epiphyllum russellianum; the epithet was Gardner's suggestion to honour his patron. In 1858 Charles Lemaire
created the genus Schlumbergera for this species – which is thus the type species
of the genus – but changed the specific epithet to epiphylloides, which is not allowed under the current rules of botanical nomenclature
; he should have called it Schlumbergera russelliana, which is its current name.
Synonyms include:
, in the state of Rio de Janeiro
, located in the southernmost part of the tropics. It has only been found in the Organ Mountains (Serra dos Órgãos) in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. Plants grow at altitudes of 1400 –. 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. russelliana usually grows on trees (epiphytic
).
, which has been called S. × buckleyi (T.Moore) Tjaden or S. Buckleyi Group. The hybrid S. orssichiana
× S. russelliana has also been made in cultivation; it has been given the name S. × eprica Süpplie. These plants and their cultivation are discussed at Schlumbergera: Cultivation.
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 moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte
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 one of the parents of many of the popular houseplants 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 russelliana 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 a small number of notches along their edges. Individual segments are about 1 – long by 0.8 – wide.
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 the notches at the side of a segment and at the end. The areoles, which bristles up to 5 mm (0.196850393700787 in) long, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers hang downwards and are radially symmetrical (regular). They are about 5 cm (2 in) long by 3 – across. The tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s, which are of various shades of pink, are arranged in two groups, giving the appearance of a "flower within a flower". The inner tepals are longer and fused together at the base to form a floral tube about 3 cm (1.2 in) long; nectar is produced at the base of this tube. Plants flower in the spring; when cultivated in the Northern Hemisphere the flowering period is February to April.
A characteristic of the genus Schlumbergera is that the many stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s are arranged in two series: the inner stamens form a ring around the style; the outer stamens arise from the floral tube. The stamens are pale pink wih pink pollen. The style has six to eight lobes at its end and is darker pink.
The fruit is greenish-yellow, with four to five ribs. The shiny seeds are dark brown, each with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in).
Taxonomy
The species was discovered for science in Brazil in 1837 by George GardnerGeorge Gardner (botanist)
George Gardner was a Scottish naturalist mainly interested in botany.Gardner's father was a gardener first to to the Earl of Dunmore in Ardentinny, then from 1816 to the Earl of Eglinton at Ardrossan. In 1822, his parents moved to Glasgow where he attended the grammar-school and acquired a...
, whose patron was John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
. It was first named in 1839 by W.J. Hooker as Epiphyllum russellianum; the epithet was Gardner's suggestion to honour his patron. In 1858 Charles Lemaire
Charles Antoine Lemaire
Charles Antoine Lemaire , was a French botanist and botanical author, noted for his publications on Cactaceae....
created the genus Schlumbergera for this species – which is thus the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus – but changed the specific epithet to epiphylloides, which is not allowed under the current 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...
; he should have called it Schlumbergera russelliana, which is its current name.
Synonyms include:
- Epiphyllum russellianum Hooker
- Cereus russellianus Gardner ex Hooker
- Phyllocactus russellianus (Hooker) Salm-Dyck
- Schlumbergera epiphylloides Lem., nom. illeg.
Distribution and habitat
S. russelliana occurs only in a small area 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 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...
, located in the southernmost part of the tropics. It has only been found in the Organ Mountains (Serra dos Órgãos) in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos. Plants grow at altitudes of 1400 –. 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. russelliana usually 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...
).
Cultivation
S. russelliana is mainly grown in the form of its hybrids with other species of the genus, particularly the hybrid S. russelliana × S. truncataSchlumbergera truncata
Schlumbergera truncata 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 habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests...
, which has been called S. × buckleyi (T.Moore) Tjaden or S. Buckleyi Group. The hybrid S. orssichiana
Schlumbergera orssichiana
Schlumbergera orssichiana 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 moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte...
× S. russelliana has also been made in cultivation; it has been given the name S. × eprica Süpplie. These plants and their cultivation are discussed at Schlumbergera: Cultivation.