---

Images | Description | Publications | Reduced Synonyms

Bonn 4502, Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo, Brazil, W. Rauh & R. Kautskyi – material sampled, Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), Nadja Korotkova, Ph.D. Thesis, 2012

Utrecht University Botanic Gardens

 
Unknown clone

Commercial clone (commonly sold mislabeled as R. paradoxa minor)

---

Description

The accepted name Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata (Kimnach) Barthlott & N. P. Taylor was published in Bradleya 13:59. 1995. The geographic range is Brazil (southern Espírito Santo (Domingos Martins); Rio de Janeiro (Mun. Nova Friburgo)) found at elevations of 0-900 meters with an endangered status of endangered. Rhipsalis pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata is classified in the subgenus Goniorhipsalis. Observed growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte. Overall habit is pendant, branches are monomorphic (single stem shape) and acrotonic or subacrotonic (stems form from the tips and just below tips of previous stems). Stems are 3 to 5 alternating angled, bristles are absent to sparse. Main stems are indeterminate (seasonal growth is various lengths), 8cm-100cm x 0.45cm-0.7cm. Flowers are rotate: sub-patent or patent (wheel shaped: partial to wide open), 0.6cm-0.8cm x 0.7cm-1cm. Petals from 5 to 6, sepals 4. Inner petals are white, light-yellow, light-brown, pink, light-orange or peach, outer petals are white, light-yellow, peach, orange, pink or brown. Stamen are white, from 27 to 37. Stigma lobes from 3 to 4. Flower ovary is subglobose or obconical, unreported x unreported. Flowering position on the stem is lateral 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 semi-immersed (flower ovary is partially hidden in the stems during bud development). Trichomes or wool is sparse at the areoles after flowering. Unripe fruit is green. Ripe fruit is globose; white, 0.5cm x 0.5cm. Other notable features: Ripe fruit often with pink or red ring around the top. Commonly confused with R. paradoxa subsp. paradoxa and R. paradoxa subsp. septentrionalis. The species are not very closely related1 and evolved their distinct 3-4 angled alternating stems independently. R. pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata is easily distinguishable by having longer narrower indeterminate stems (stems that grow to various lengths each season) and much smaller flowers and fruit. R. pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata may not be as closely related to R. pacheco-leonis subsp. pacheco-leonis1,2 as thought, the current taxonomy for this species might change. 1Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), Nadja Korotkova, Ph.D. Thesis, 2012 2A remarkable new Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) from eastern Brazil, N. P. Taylor, G. Olsthoorn, D. Zappi, G. Khew, D. Quandt, Bradleya:32, 2014 Comments: Subspecies are 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 pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata 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
Rio de Janeiro - Cactaceae of the State of Rio de Janeiro (version 1, 8/2022), fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org	Diego Rafael Gonzaga, Maria de Fátima Freitas, Alice Calvente	Website		2022
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)
Additions and corrections to ‘Cacti of Eastern Brazil’	Nigel P. Taylor, Daniela C. Zappi	Journal Article	Bradleya	2018	2018	36	2 – 21	British Cactus and Succulent Society
Rhipsalis, cactussen uit het tropische woud 3	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2018	97	4	163-166
Rhipsalis (Cactaceae): loss and gain of floral rewards is mirrored in range sizes and distribution patterns of species	Bernadette Grosse-Veldmann, Stefan Abrahamczyk, Jens Mutke, Wilhelm Barthlott, Maximilian Weigend	Journal Article	Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society	2016	180		491-503
Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Nadja Korotkova	Ph.D. Thesis		2012				Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Der seltsame Binsenkaktus Rhipsalis paradoxa - eine kulturwürdige Art aus Brasilien	Andreas Hofacker	Journal Article	Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten	2011	62	8	202-206
What does it take to resolve relationship and to identify species with molecular markers? An example from the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Nadja Korotkova, Borsch T, Dietmar Quandt, Nigel P. Taylor, Müller K, Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	American Journal of Botany	2011	98		1549-1572
A Unique Cactus with Scented and Possibly Bat-Dispersed Fruits: Rhipsalis juengeri	Boris Schlumpberger, Robin A. Clery, Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	Plant Biology	2006	8	2	265-70
The New Cactus Lexicon: Atlas of illustrations	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			104-120	DH Books
The New Cactus Lexicon: Text	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			138-139,142-143,253-257	DH Books
Cacti of Eastern Brazil	Nigel P. Taylor, Daniela C. Zappi	Book		2004				The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Re-classification of Rhipsalideae, A Polyphyletic Tribe of the Cactaceae Durande	Alexander B. Doweld	Journal Article	Succulents	2001	4	1-2
Taxonomy and Phytogeography of the Cactaceae of Eastern Brazil	Nigel P. Taylor	Ph.D. Thesis		2000
Die Namen der Gattungen und Arten epiphytischer Kakteen. Teil 1. Rhipsalideae	Ralf Bauer	Journal Article	EPIG	1996	8	2	47-51
Notes towards a Monograph of Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Wilhelm Barthlott, Nigel P. Taylor	Journal Article	Bradleya	1995	13		43-79	British Cactus and Succulent Society

---

Reduced Synonyms

Name	Reduced by	Published Date	Published In
Rhipsalis paradoxa var. catenulata Kimnach		1992	Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 64(2): 91. 1992
Hylorhipsalis pacheco-leonis subsp. catenulata (Kimnach) Doweld		2002	Sukkulenty 4: 39. 2002 ["2001"]