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Images | Description | Publications

Rhipsalis dissimilis f. dissimilis, possibly the reduced synonym Rhipsalis setulosa

Botanical illustrations and historical images

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Description

The synonym of Rhipsalis dissimilis f. dissimilis, Rhipsalis setulosa F.A.C.Weber was published in Rev. Hort. (Paris) 64: 428. 1892. Due to the deviation in the botanical description from the accepted taxon type description, we have allowed for a distinct description for this older taxon. The intent is to alleviate too broad of a description for proper identification. The geographic range is Brazil (Sâo Paulo) found at elevations of 800-1102 meters with an endangered status of endangered. Rhipsalis setulosa is classified in the subgenus Calamorhipsalis. Observed growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte. Overall habit is erect, semi-erect or pendant, branches are dimorphic (more than one stem shape) and acrotonic (stems form from the tips of previous stems). Stems are round and 4 to 8 angled, bristles are absent to sparse to dense. Basal stems are indeterminate (seasonal growth is various lengths), 30cm-60cm x unreported. Main stems are determinate (seasonal growth is about the same length), unreported x 0.63cm-0.85cm. Flowers are rotate: sub-patent or patent (wheel shaped: partial to wide open), unreported x 1.9cm. Petal count is unreported, sepals 5. Inner petals are light-yellow or yellow, outer petals are yellow, brown or red. Stamen color is unreported, 80. Stigma lobes from 3 to 4. Flower ovary is obconical or globose, unreported x unreported. Flowering position on the stem is lateral to subapical and the flower orientation in relation to the stem is oblique. Does repeat flowering per areole. A maximum of 1 flowers were reported at a single areole. Areole position in the stems is deeply immersed (flower ovary is partially or fully hidden in the stems during bud development). Trichomes or wool is dense at the areoles after flowering. Unripe fruit color is unreported. Ripe fruit shape is unreported; color is unreported, unreported x unreported. Other notable features: Reduced under R. dissimilis f. dissimilis in 1995 by Barthlott & Taylor1. This species has not part of any known molecular phylogenetic study. Intitially described by Dr. Weber as growing in large bushes in São Paulo and very close in appearance if not synonymous with R. dissimilis f. dissimilis. Dr. Weber described the upper stems as always consistently 5 angled. The flower is described as being very similar to those of R. trigonoides.2 A year later Karl Schumann describes the flowers as predominantly white and smaller than R. dissimilis f. dissimilis without the purple-violet exterior, and suggests the name should be retained.3 In 1905 N. E. Brown provides more information and a sketch, noting that both Dr. Weber and K. Schumann described the outer petals of the flowers as straw yellow. He goes on to describe the flowers as having more petals and at least as many as 3 times the stamen of R. dissimilis f. dissimilis. The plant is a 1-1.5ft high, and dimorphic. Stems 3-6 inches long, 5 occasionally 4 angled, and rounded, some with flat faces between the areoles. Some stems with 13-20 soft somewhat depressed bristles. The flowers are just under 2cm in diameter. The flower ovary is shortly obconic and immersed with trichomes present. The flower petals are reddish-brown on the backs and tips, and straw-yellow on the inside.4 Lower stems commonly 7 to 8 angled covered in bristles, upper stems 5 angled without bristles. 1Notes towards a Monograph of Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), W. Barthlott, N. P. Taylor, Bradleya 13, 1995 2Cactées Nouvelles du Genre Rhipsalis, Revue horticole, Dr. Weber, Anne 1892 3Beschreibungen neuer Arten der Gattung Rhipsalis, Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde, Karl Schumann, Bd. 3, 1893 4Rhipsalis dissimilis var. setulosa, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, N. E. Brown, 131:4, 1905 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

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Rhipsalis setulosa referenced publications

Title	Authors	Type	Journal	Year	Volume	Issue	Pages	Publisher
Rhipsalis dissimilis var. setulosa	N. E. Brown	Book	Curtis's Botanical Magazine	1905	131	4	8013	London, Academic Press [etc.]
Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde	Karl Schumann	Book		1893	3		8-12,22-27,33-35,69,91	Neudamm, J. Neumann
Revue horticole		Book		1892	Anne 1892		424-429	Paris, Librairie agricole de la maison rustique, 1829-1974