SPECIES.
[R. Cassytha] (derivation not known).—A pendent shrub, 4 ft. or more high, growing on rocks and the mossy trunks of trees. Branches numerous, flexuous, with small branchlets or joints springing from the ends in clusters, smooth, round, the thickness of whipcord, leafless, with numerous brown, dot-like marks scattered over the surface; under a lens these dots are seen to be tufts of very fine hairs. Flowers on the sides of the young branches, small, greenish-white, short-lived; they are developed in September, and are succeeded by white berries, exactly like those of the Mistletoe, whence the name Mistletoe Cactus, by which this species is known. An interesting and easily-grown warm greenhouse plant, native of tropical America, Africa, &c. It was introduced in 1758.
[R. commune] (common); Bot. Mag. 3763.—Stem straggling, branching freely, growing to a length of several feet. Branches jointed; joints varying in length, triangular, the angles compressed, and notched along the margins; notches regular, and bearing tufts of whitish hair. Strong plants produce joints over 1 in. in width. Flowers white, tinged with purple, springing singly from the notches, and composed of eight to twelve sepals and petals. Stamens and stigma erect, white, the latter four-rayed. This species is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in 1830; Flowering-season, October to December. It may be grown in a warm greenhouse, and treated as a basket-plant or as a small pot-shrub. Syn. Lepismium commune.
[R. crispata] (curled).—Stem branching freely. Branches jointed and flat, like Epiphyllum. Margins of joints notched, and slightly curled. Flowers small, white, produced singly, in November and December, in the notches on the younger joints. Fruits white, pea-like, rather rarely ripened. A free-growing, compact stove shrub, with a bright green, healthy appearance. The similarity of its branches to Epiphyllum led to its being included in that genus by Haworth.
[R. c. purpurea] (purple).—This variety has larger, broader joints, which are bronzy-purple in colour.
[R. fasciculata] (cluster-branched); Bot. Mag. 3079.—Stems terete, as thick as a goose-quill. Branches usually in clusters, and sometimes jointed, green, with small red dots and little tufts of fine, hair-like bristles. Flowers white, produced in March, springing irregularly from the older branches, small, star-like. Fruit a white berry. From its habit of growing on trees, and the character of its stems and fruit, this plant has been called parasitical. It is, however, only indebted to the tree on which is grows for moisture, for it thrives if planted in a pot or basket in ordinary soil, and kept in a stove temperature. It is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in 1831.
[R. floccosa] (woolly).—Stems as in R. Cassytha, but thicker, longer, and with the branchlets in compact clusters on the ends of the long, arching branches. The dots marking the position of the microscopic hair-tufts are in small depressions. Flowers and fruit as in R. Cassytha, of which this might reasonably be called a variety. This species requires warm-house temperature.
[R. funalis] (cord-like); Fig. 89.—Stem straggling, branched. Branches numerous, composed of long, terete joints, rather thicker than a goose-quill, glaucous-green, slightly roughened on the surface, with depressions for the dot-like cushions. Branchlets usually fascicled and spreading. Flowers white, produced in spring, on the sides of the young joints, 1 in. across, large for the genus. Introduced from Central America about 1830. An easily-grown plant, sturdy, rather straggling, but very free-flowering. In old specimens the branches become semi-pendulous. It grows best when kept in a warm house. Syn. R. grandiflora.
FIG. 89.—RHIPSALIS FUNALIS
[R. Houlletii] (Houllet's); Bot. Mag. 6089.—Stems long, graceful, branching freely, round and twig-like, or with broad wings, as in Phyllocactus. Winged or flattened portions notched, and bearing a flower in each notch. Flowers stalkless, with pointed, straw-coloured petals, forming a shallow cup about ¾ in. across the top. Stamens and pistil white, with a tinge of red at the base. Flowering-season, November. Under cultivation, this Brazilian species forms a small, straggling shrub, about 3 ft. high, but in its native woods its stems are many feet long, and pendulous from the branches of trees. It may be grown in a warm house, in a pot, and its branches supported by a stake; or its lower stems may be fastened against a piece of soft fern-stem, into which its numerous stem-roots penetrate freely. In the winter it should be kept almost dry. The flowers remain fresh for several days, and are fragrant. A well-grown plant, when in flower, is an interesting and pretty object. It is the most ornamental kind.
[R. Knightii] (Knight's).—Stems and joints as in R. commune. Wings of joints usually broad, with red margins, and the hair in the notches in a dense tuft, nearly 1 in. long, pure white, and silk-like. Flowers small, white. This species, which thrives best under warm-house treatment, is a native of Brazil, and is usually grown only for its curious, Cereus-like stems. It forms a straggling plant about 1 ft. high. Syn. Lepismium Knightii, Cereus Knightii.
[R. mesembryanthemoides] (Mesembryanthemum-like); Bot. Mag. 3O78.—A small, compact plant, with woody stems, densely covered with little fleshy, conical joints, resembling very closely the leaves of some of the Mesembryanthemums. They are green, with a few red dots, each bearing a very small tuft of the finest hair-like spines. The flowers are developed in March, from the sides of the small joints; they are ½ in. across, and yellowish-white. Fruit a small, white, round berry. Native of South America, whence it was introduced in 1831. When grown in a warm house, in a small, round, wire basket, filled with peat and sphagnum, this little Cactus forms a pretty tuft, which in the spring produces large numbers of white, star-like flowers.
[R. myosurus] (mouse-tailed); Bot. Mag. 3755.—Stems dependent, several feet long, branching freely, jointed, with three or four angles or wings; the angles flattened, reddish, notched in the margin, and bearing a tuft of white, silky hairs in each notch. Flowers small, yellow, tinged with red, springing from the notches; produced in July. Fruit not seen. A native of Brazil; introduced in 1839. This species resembles some of the angular-stemmed kinds of Cereus. It grows freely and flowers annually, if planted in a basket of fibrous soil, and suspended near the glass in a warm greenhouse or stove. It is attractive even when not in flower, owing to the form of its stems and the tufts of long, silky, white hair which spring from the notches. Syn. Lepismium myosurus.
[R. pachyptera] (thick-winged); Bot. Mag. 2820.—Stem woody; branches jointed, flattened as in Phyllocactus, with deep notches; width of joints, 2 in. or more. Flowers small, yellowish-white, borne singly in the notches in November. Fruit a small, white berry, rarely ripened. A sturdy, comparatively uninteresting stove plant, introduced from Brazil in 1830. Syn. Cactus alatus.
[R. paradoxa] (paradoxical).—Stems trailing, with numerous long branches of most extraordinary form. Imagine a three-angled, fleshy branch, often several feet in length, the angles winged, about ½ in. deep, green, with smooth, reddish margins. At intervals of about 2 in. the branch has the appearance of having been twisted half round. There is no other plant with branches anything like these. Flowers produced in November, in the apex of the interrupted angles, small, white. Fruit seldom ripened. A native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1837. There is a fine example of this trained along a rafter in the Succulent-house at Kew. The numerous branches hang down several feet from the rafter, and have a most extraordinary appearance. This species requires stove treatment.
[R. penduliflora] (pendulous-flowered).—A small, thin-stemmed plant, with smooth, green branches, no thicker than whipcord, and numerous fascicled or clustered, small joints, ½ in. long, green, with red dots, angular when young. Flowers on the tips of the terminal joints, pale yellow, ½ in. across, developing in August. Fruit white, Mistletoe-like. This species was introduced from tropical America in 1877, and requires stove treatment.
[R. p. laxa] (loose).—This variety has the branches curving, and more pendulous; in other respects it resembles the type, and requires the same treatment.
[R. pentaptera] (five-winged).—Stems erect; branches stiff, long-jointed, with five wing-like angles, slightly spiral, the angles notched at intervals of 1 in. Flowers in the notches, ½ in. across, white, produced in August. Fruit a white, Mistletoe-like berry. A curious plant from Brazil, and introduced in 1836. In stove temperature it forms a compact pot-shrub, 2 ft. high, and is worth growing on account of its singular stems.
[R. rhombea] (diamond-branched).—Stems and branches as in R. crispata, but without the wavy margins, and with more elongated joints. Flowers small, white, produced in the notches of the joints in November. Fruit a shining, milk-white berry. A compact plant from Brazil, worth growing for its bright green, leaf-like stems. It should be grown in pots, in stove temperature, and encouraged to form a globose bush.
[R. Saglionis] (Saglio's); Bot. Mag. 4039.—A tiny plant, similar in habit to R. penduliflora, but with brown branches, the small joints angled, and bearing silky hairs. The branches and joints are set at zigzag angles. Flowers pale yellow, produced in autumn on the younger joints. Fruits white, Mistletoe-like. A small, delicate plant from Buenos Ayres, not more than 6 in. high. This species requires stove treatment.
[R. salicornoides] (Glasswort-like); Bot. Mag. 2461.—Stem woody when old, brown, jointed like hens' toes, not quite as thick as a goose-quill. Branches in clusters; joints ½ in. to 1 in. long, the lower half much thinner than the upper, so that the joints look like a number of superposed, miniature clubs. Flowers pretty, on the ends of the terminal joints, yellow, becoming red with age. An erect plant, 3 ft. or more high, introduced from Brazil in 1830. The joints are clustered on the upper part of the stem. When in flower in spring this is an attractive and very remarkable-looking plant. It thrives best in stove temperature.
[R. s. stricta] (straight).—This variety has the joints all pointing upwards, and is much more compact than the type.
[R. sarmentacea] (runner-stemmed); Fig. 90.—A creeping, prostrate plant, with round stems as thick as a goose-quill, and attaching themselves to tree-trunks or other bodies by means of numerous adventitious roots, which spring from the under side of the stems. Surface of stem furrowed, and covered with numerous small clusters of short, hair-like, whitish spines. Flowers 1 in. across, springing from the sides of the stems, with pointed, creamy-white petals; stamens spreading; stigma erect, four-lobed. Fruit small, currant-like. This is a pretty little species, introduced from Brazil in 1858; it is, however, a very slow grower, plants ten years old being only a few inches in diameter. It should be grown in stove temperature, in a basket of peat fibre, or, better still, on a piece of soft fern-stem. It is always found on the branches or trunks of trees when growing wild.
FIG. 90.—RHIPSALIS SARMENTACEA
[R. Swartziana] (Swartz's).—Older stems three-angled, young ones flattened, jointed; joints 2 in. broad, stiff with deep notches. Flowers in the notches, small, white, produced in June. This species is a native of Jamaica, and was introduced in 1810. A stiff, ungraceful plant, about 2 ft. high, very similar in its branches to a Phyllocactus. This species requires the temperature of a stove.
[R. trigona] (triangular).—Habit straggling; branches usually in forks, ¼ in. in diameter, three-angled; angles wavy or slightly notched, grey-green. Flowers small, produced in spring in the notches of the angles, white. Fruit a white berry. A thin, Brazilian plant, not unlike a Lepismium, but without the silky hairs in the notches of the angles. This species also requires to be grown in stove temperature.