TORREYA 



July, 1913. 

 Vol. 13 No. 7 



ARE THE SPECIES OF RHIPSALIS DISCOVERED IN 

 AFRICA INDIGENOUS? 



By R. Roland-Gosselin* 



There have been several species of Rhipsalis described, from the 

 African continent, from Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Mascarene 

 Islands. Most of these exist living in our collections and it has 

 now become possible, after a comparative study, to form an idea 

 as to their being indigenous or imported, by way of the ocean, 

 from America. 



I have possessed for fifteen years adult examples of all of 

 Weber's species, with labels written in his handwriting, by the 

 aid of which I feel able to make careful comparisons on account 

 of the authenticity of his types, 



Weber described in the Revue hort. 1892: 



Rhipsalis madagascariensis. 

 suareziana. 

 comorensis. 

 zanziharica. 



K. Schumann described* (Monogr. Cact. p. 603): 



Rhipsalis erythrocarpa. 



Welwitsch described a Rhipsalis aethiopica from Angola, and 

 Commerson found on the island of Mauritius Rhipsalis mauritiana 

 and fasciculata Haw. 



If to this list we add Rhipsalis Cassutha Gaertn. which is as 

 common in Africa as in America, and which has also been col- 

 lected in Asia at Ceylon, I shall have mentioned all the species 

 of Rhipsalis actually known in the flora of the Old World. 



* Bull. Soc. Bot. France 59: 97-102. 1912. Presented January 12, 1912. 

 Translation by E. G. Britton, 

 [No. 6, Vol. 13, of ToRREYA, Comprising pp. 121-150, was issued 9 June 1913.] 



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