Francais | English | Espanõl

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iMistletoe cactus
Conservation status
Secure </div>
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae Tribe: Rhipsalideae Genus: Rhipsalis Species: R. baccifera
Binomial name
Rhipsalis baccifera (J.S. Mueller) Stearn

Rhipsalis baccifera or Mistletoe cactus is an Epiphytic cactus which originates from Central and Southern America, Caribbean and Florida. It is also spread throughout the tropics of Old World. This is the only cactus species naturally occurring outside the New World, although it is believed that R. baccifera was introduced relatively recently to the Old World by migratory birds.

[edit] Naming

The species shows considerable polymorphism and can be divided into numerous subspecies. Mesoamerican specimens are usually tetraploid and South American specimens are diploid. The naming of the species is confusing and a very large number of alternative names exist. These include:

Cactus caripensis Cactus fasciculatus Cactus pendulus Cassyta baccifera Cassytha filiformis Hariota fasciculata Rhipsalis baccifera ssp. fasciculata Rhipsalis baccifera ssp. rhodocarpa Rhipsalis bartlettii Rhipsalis caripensis Rhipsalis cassutha Rhipsalis cassuthopsis Rhipsalis cassytha var. rhodocarpa Rhipsalis cassythoides

Rhipsalis dichotoma Rhipsalis fasciculata Rhipsalis heptagona Rhipsalis hookeriana Rhipsalis hylaea Rhipsalis madagascariensis Rhipsalis minutiflora Rhipsalis neocassutha Rhipsalis parasitica Rhipsalis parasitica Rhipsalis pilosa Rhipsalis undulata Rhipsalis suarensis Rhipsalis suareziana

Of these the genus Cassytha does not even belong to Cactaceae The classification of some Rhipsalis species to Cassytha was an error. The genus Hariota is a synonym for Rhipsalis.

[edit] Sources

• [1] URL accessed September 26, 2006
• [2] URL accessed September 26, 2006

• The Rhipsalis Riddle