RHIPSALIDOPSIS. 



209 



axils are a large number of projecting white bristles. Still more different is the fruit, which Lofgren 

 did not know. It is striking because of its size, about 10 to 12 mm. by 10 to 12 mm., and while the 

 rest of the Rhipsalis fruits in size, form, and color resemble mistletoe berries or are rarely yellow 

 or pale rose, these are strongly wine-red and beset with numerous bristles bearing small areoles, 

 forming a wreath on the umbilicus of the fruit, like Cereiis and especially Opuntia, only the bristles 

 are white and not pricking. In cross-sections the fruit is also red but has a watery sap and a larger 

 number of seeds, coiled on the placenta in the middle of the fruit. The seeds are about double the 

 size of those of Rhipsalis." 



I. Erythrorhipsalis pilocarpa (Lofgren) Berger, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 30: 4. 1920. 



Rhipsalis pilocarpa Lofgren, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 52. 1903. 



Stems dark green to purple, at first erect, sometimes 4 dm. long and unbranched, terminated 

 by 2 to 4 branches in a whorl, the ultimate branches often only i cm. long, in time the whole plant 

 becoming pendent; joints clustered, when withering somewhat angled, tipped by yellow bristles; 

 areoles filled with long setose hairs or bristles subtended by ovate scarious bracts; flowers at ends 

 of terminal branches, very fragrant, opening slowly, up to 2 cm. broad; flower-tube 2 mm. long, 

 reddish on the inside; outer perianth-segments 5 or 6, triangular, rose-colored; inner perianth- 

 segments 10 to 15, spreading or sometimes recurved, lanceolate, acuminate, 10 mm. long, white or 

 cream-colored with pinkish tips; stamens numerous, red at bases; ovary with several areoles, 

 bearing as many as 10 bristles, subtended by small scarious scales and surrounded by purple spots; 

 style exserted in the bud; stigma-lobes 4 to 8, white, spreading apart the second day after the 

 appearance of the style and before the stamens appear. 



Type locality: Ytu and Ypanema, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 



Distribution: States of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 



Pfeifera rhipsaloides Lofgren (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 54. 1903) was another 

 name suggested for this plant when it was first described. 



Illustrations: Bliihende Kakteen 2: pi. 99; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 55; Rev. 

 Centr. Sci. Campinas No. 4, opp. 188; Mollers Deutsche Gart. Zeit. 25: 477. f. 11, No. 



II, 20; Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro i: pi. i, as Rhipsalis pilocarpa. 



Plate XXI, figure 5, is of a plant in the New York Botanical Garden which flowered 

 in April 19 19 and was obtained by Dr. Shafer from Dr. Lofgren at Rio de Janeiro in 191 7. 



2. RHIPSALIDOPSIS gen. nov. 



Somewhat shrubby, erect, reclining or pendulous, the joints 3 to 5-angled; branches usually sev- 

 eral, terminal; areoles small, sometimes bearing setae; flowers terminal, with a broad rotate limb and 

 a very short tube; stamens erect; style slender; fruit unknown. 



Type species: Rhipsalis rosea Lagerheim. 



One species is known, native of southern Brazil. 



This plant was originally described as Rhipsalis, but 

 it has a much larger flower and the perianth-segments are 

 united into a short tube. In habit it resembles some of 

 the species of Epiphyllanthus but has a regular flower. 

 We have placed it near Pfeiffera, but we do not believe 

 that it is close to that genus, for it has a rotate flower and 

 the flowers and branches are terminal, as in Zygocactus. 



The generic name is given on account of its resem- 

 blance to some of the species of Rhipsalis. 



1. Rhipsalidopsis rosea (Lagerheim). 



Rhipsalis rosea Lagerheim, Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 6: 717. 1912. 



Branches short, i to 3, strongly 4-angled or sometimes 3 

 or 5-angled, with concave sides; buds red; flowers 3.7 cm. broad, 

 fragrant ; perianth-segments few, rose-colored ; stamens 1 1 mm. 

 long, rose-colored; style 13 mm. long, rose-colored; stigma- 

 lobes 3, white, 3 mm. long. 



M.-^, 



Fig. 210. — Rhipsalidopsis rosea. 



