(Last Modified On 11/29/2012)
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(Last Modified On 11/29/2012)
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Genus
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RHIPSALIS Gaertn.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Fruct. Sem. 1:137. 1788
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Reference
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Britton & Rose, in Carnegie Inst. Wash. Publ. No. 248. 4:219. 1923, nom. conserv.
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Synonym
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Hariota Adans. Fam. 2:243. 1763, nom. rejic.
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Description
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Rather slender succulent root-climbers, usually epiphytic; stems phylloid and jointed, terete or essentially so in our species, the areoles spiral, naked to abundantly hirsute or bristly. Leaves lacking. Flowers very small, sessile or somewhat sunken within the stem joints, solitary; perianth rotate, the segments free or essentially so, relatively few, sometimes only 5, usually spreading; stamens about twice as many as the perianth lobes, the filaments inserted on the margin of the hypanthium. Berry small, usually white, with rather few small seeds.
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Note
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A perplexing genus of 50 or more species in tropical and subtropical America; also with several species described from the Old World, at least some of which may be introduced from America. Known as Mistletoe Cactus in the United States. Besides the ubiquitous Rh. cassytha there are two very distinct species in Panama which are known only from sterile specimens. Both probably are un- described, but of course cannot be provided with names until flowering plants are found.
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Key
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a. Sterile areoles minutely puberulent to essentially naked. b. Flowering areoles minutely puberulent to essentially naked ................... 1. RH. CASSYTHA bb. Flowering areoles very conspicuously floccose-hirsute ............................. 2. RH. SP. aa. Sterile areoles with conspicuous tufts of spreading bristles .------------------------ 3. RH. SP.
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