Xerophyte

Seeds

Small, black.

Description

Pseudorhipsalis ramulosaSN|8613]]SN|8613]] (also known as Red mistletoe cactus) is a graceful shrubby epiphyte succulent freely branching basally with completely pendant flat reddish tapeworm stems and the more sun, the deep violet red it gets. It produces lots of greenish-white flowers followed by small mistletoe-like fruits lining both edges of the ribbon stems most attractively. It forms large hanging clusters. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. jamaicensis (Britton & Harris) Doweld.

Similar Species

It is similar to Rhipsalis lorentziana but bearing scales on the ovary.

Flowers

Usually borne singly at the areoles, more or less pendent, small, rotate, greenish white or pinkish 7-12 mm long, 10-14 mm in diameter; sepals and petals 6 or 7. Pericarpel with few , small scales. Stamens in two groups one forming a ring in the throat, the remainders inserted further down the tube.ovate-lanceolate, adhering to the base of the ovary, persistent; stamens 12 to 18. Style filiform; stigma lobes inconspicuous.

Stem

Of two forms, the main primary stems woody, with rounded bases, 30-70 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, erect, terete flattened, often hairy basally. Secondary stems (branches) arising in four or five rows from the rounded parts of the primary stems, rounded basally, flattened apically, often further branched, lance shaped to linear, reddish at first, later pale green, 7-25 cm long, to 15-15 mm cm wide, with distant low crenations 12 to 20 mm apart, when young often ciliate at areoles but in age naked.

Fruits

Ovoid, glabrous, white to pinkish white and subpellucid that looks like and are about the same size as pearls (4 to 8 mm in diameter), with 2 to 3 minute scales.

Areoles

Spineless.