Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. cleistogama M. Kessler, Ibisch, & Barthlott

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Description

The accepted name Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. cleistogama M. Kessler, Ibisch, & Barthlott was published in Bradleya 18: 22. 2000.

The geographic range is Bolivia found at elevations of 400 meters with an endangered status of vulnerable.

Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. cleistogama is classified in the subgenus Rhipsalis.

Observed growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte. Overall habit is pendant, branches are dimorphic (more than one stem shape) and acrotonic (stems form from the tips of previous stems).

Stems are round, bristles are absent. Basal stems are indeterminate (seasonal growth is various lengths), 50cm x 0.3cm-0.5cm. Main stems are determinate (seasonal growth is about the same length), 4cm-9cm x 0.2cm.

Flowers are rotate: closed (typically self-pollenates before opening), 0.5cm-0.8cm x 0.4cm-0.7cm. Petals from 4 to 8, sepals from 1 to 2. Inner petals are white, light-yellow, light-yellow-green or light-green, outer petals are white, cream, green, pink, brown or red. Stamen are white, from 20 to 25. Stigma lobes from 2 to 4. Flower ovary is globose or ovoid, 0.25cm-0.4cm x 0.07cm-0.25cm.

Flowering position on the stem is lateral to subapical and the flower orientation in relation to the stem is perpendicular. Does not repeat flowering per areole. A maximum of 2 flowers were reported at a single areole. Areole position in the stems is superficial (flower ovary is visible on the surface of the stems during bud development). Trichomes or wool is absent at the areoles after flowering.

Unripe fruit is green or brown. Ripe fruit is globose or ovoid; red, 0.4cm-0.5cm x 0.6cm-0.7cm.

Other notable features:
Flowers are cleistogamous (self-pollinate before opening). Closely related to^1,2 and commonly confused with forms of R. teres, all R. baccifera subspecies can be distinguished by having a flower ovary that is typically longer than the petal parts of the flower during most of the bud of development, flowers are a pale yellow to white as they die, and remain attached to the flower ovary.

¹Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), Nadja Korotkova, Ph.D. Thesis, 2012
²Molecular phylogeny, evolution and systematics of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae), Alice Calvente, Ph.D. Thesis, 2010

Comments:
Subspecies are often recognized at the extreme morphological characterization found in nature, however this species presents a high level of plasticity and varying intermediate morphologies are reported between the various subspecies.

Taxonomic treatment and description were derived from:

The referenced publications below
- published material was examined and consolidated
  - to determine minimum and maximum size ranges
  - to determine color variations and shapes
In rare cases
- if minimum and maximum values were unreported, authors examined their own materials
- if clearly observed colors were unreported, authors expanded the botanical descriptions

Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. cleistogama referenced publications

Title	Authors	Type	Journal	Year	Volume	Issue	Pages	Publisher
Epifytische cactussen, rhipsalis.eu. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025	Aat van Uijen	Website		2025
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew \| Plants of the World Online. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
The Caryophyllales Network 2015+ [continuously updated]: A global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
WFO The World Flora Online. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org – a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family	Nadja Korotkova, David Aquino, Salvador Arias, Urs Eggli, Alan Franck, Carlos Gómez-Hinostrosa, Pablo C. Guerrero, Héctor M. Hernández, Andreas Kohlbecker, Matias Köhler, Katja Luther, Lucas C. Majure, Andreas Müller, Detlev Metzing, Reto Nyffeler, Daniel Sánchez, Boris Schlumpberger, Walter G. Berendsohn	Journal Article	Willdenowia	2021	51	2	251 – 270	Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin (BGBM)
Rhipsalis, cactussen uit het tropische woud 2	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2018	97	1	39-44
The New Cactus Lexicon: Text	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			138-139,142-143,253-257	DH Books
Ecology, biogeography and diversity of the Bolivian epiphytic cacti — with the description of two new taxa	Pierre Ibisch, Michael Kessler, Christoph Nowicki, Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	Bradleya	2000	18		2-30, 120, 247-249	British Cactus and Succulent Society
Cactus Lexicon	Curt Backeberg, Walther Haage	Book		1966			205,220-222,440-449, 647, 750	Blandford Press Ltd. (1966-1973)

Reduced Synonyms

Name	Reduced by	Published Date	Published In