PLATE 394. 
RHIPSALIS CaSsyTHA, Gaertn. (FI. of Mauritius and Seychelles. p. 133). 
Natural Order, CacTacrs. 
An almost leafless piant with terete stems, bearing sessile white flowers. 
Stems and branches elongate, terete, green, glabrous, 2 to 3 lines diameter, some- 
times reaching to 9 feet in length, and scarcely differing in diameter from base to 
apex; branches divaricating or sometimes whorled, occasionally rooting. Leaves 
very minute, scale-like, scattered. Flowers solitary on the branches, sessile, white. 
Calyx adnate to the ovary, and not projecting beyond it, irregularly toothed ; 
petals 5 to 8, inserted at throat of calyx, patent, persistent, spreading to 5 lines 
diameter. Stamens about 20, shorter than the petals and inserted with them; 
anthers 2-celled, cells divergent at base; connective produced slightly beyond the 
cells. Style filiform, stigmas 3-4, slightly longer than stamens, and with minute 
glandular hairs on upper surface and margins. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, many 
ovuled. Berry globose, 3 lines diameter, at first dull reddish, becoming lighter 
coloured with age; seeds minute, black, shining. 
Habitat: Navs.: Hanging from trees and rocks in midland and upper 
districts. 
Drawn from a plant growing on wood in Botanic Gardens. 
The genus Ehipsalis includes 30 or more species, of which the plant here 
described is the only one found in Natal. It also occurs in Madagascar and the 
Mascarine Islands. It is also the only species of the Order Cactacew which is so 
far as at present known indigenous to Africa, though more than one introduced 
species are becoming more or less nuisances in some parts of South Africa, but 
they are all really natives'‘of the American continent. The present species has no 
economic or decorative value, and is only inserted here on account of its rarity, 
and somewhat peculiar distribution. 
Fig 1, a bud; 2, a flower; 3, a stamen; 4, style and stigma; 5, portion of 
stem showing the minute leaves; all enlarged. 
