Rhipsalis pentaptera Pfeiff. ex A. Dietr.

Images | Description | Publications | Reduced Synonyms

Bonn 4656 – material sampled, Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), Nadja Korotkova, Ph.D. Thesis, 2012

Rhipsais pentaptera, Bonn 4656 — Photo: Ralf Bauer

Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, clone with larger flowers

Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, clone with smaller flowers

Commercial clone

Rhipsalis pentaptera — Photo: Ruud Tropper

Magdeburg Garden, Germany

Unknown clone

Rhipsalis petaptera — Photo: Zsolt Varga

Botanical illustrations and historical images

Description

The accepted name Rhipsalis pentaptera Pfeiff. ex A. Dietr. was published in Allg. Gartenzeitung 4: 105. 1836.

The geographic range is Brazil (S Rio de Janeiro) found at elevations of 0-100 meters with an endangered status of critically endangered.

Rhipsalis pentaptera is classified in the subgenus Goniorhipsalis.

Observed growing as an epiphyte. Overall habit is pendant, branches are monomorphic (single stem shape) and acrotonic (stems form from the tips of previous stems).

Stems are 3 to 7 angled, margins have low crenations (slightly scalloped), bristles are absent. Main stems are indeterminate (seasonal growth is various lengths), 5cm-25cm x 0.4cm-1.5cm.

Flowers are rotate: sub-patent or patent (wheel shaped: partial to wide open), 0.7cm-0.8cm x 0.7cm-1.1cm. Petals from 5 to 7, sepal count is unreported. Inner petals are white, light-yellow, light-green, light-yellow-green, peach or pink, outer petals are white, cream, green, peach or pink. Stamen are white, from 41 to 48. Stigma lobes from 3 to 4. Flower ovary is globose or obovoid, unreported x unreported.

Flowering position on the stem is lateral and the flower orientation in relation to the stem is perpendicular. Does repeat flowering per areole. A maximum of 5 flowers were reported at a single areole. Areole position in the stems is superficial (flower ovary is visible on the surface of the stems during bud development). Trichomes or wool is absent at the areoles after flowering.

Unripe fruit is white or green. Ripe fruit is globose or ovoid; white or pink, 0.6cm x 0.5cm-0.6cm.

Other notable features:
Ripe fruit often with pink or red ring around the top. Contrary to the name the stems can be less or more than 5-angled. Often confused with R. micrantha f. kirbergii and R. sulcata. R. pentaptera tends to have an overall more bushy pendant appearance. The stems are typically thicker and more prominently lobed than either of the aforementioned species. The stems are typically shorter than those of R. sulcata and longer than those of R. micrantha f. kirbergii. R. pentaptera has predominantly white flowers while R. sulcata has distinctly yellow flowers. The flowers of R. pentaptera and R. micrantha f. kirbergii can look quite similar but typically R. pentaptera has larger flowers and a shorter flower ovary.

Taxonomic treatment and description were derived from:

The referenced publications below
- published material was examined and consolidated
  - to determine minimum and maximum size ranges
  - to determine color variations and shapes
In rare cases
- if minimum and maximum values were unreported, authors examined their own materials
- if clearly observed colors were unreported, authors expanded the botanical descriptions

Rhipsalis pentaptera referenced publications

Title	Authors	Type	Journal	Year	Volume	Issue	Pages	Publisher
Epifytische cactussen, rhipsalis.eu. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025	Aat van Uijen	Website		2025
IPCN Chromosome Reports. Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed on: 18 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew \| Plants of the World Online. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
The Caryophyllales Network 2015+ [continuously updated]: A global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
WFO The World Flora Online. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025		Website		2025
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-2. accessed on 2025-01-07		Website		2024
Rio de Janeiro - Cactaceae of the State of Rio de Janeiro (version 1, 8/2022), fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org	Diego Rafael Gonzaga, Maria de Fátima Freitas, Alice Calvente	Website		2022
Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org – a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family	Nadja Korotkova, David Aquino, Salvador Arias, Urs Eggli, Alan Franck, Carlos Gómez-Hinostrosa, Pablo C. Guerrero, Héctor M. Hernández, Andreas Kohlbecker, Matias Köhler, Katja Luther, Lucas C. Majure, Andreas Müller, Detlev Metzing, Reto Nyffeler, Daniel Sánchez, Boris Schlumpberger, Walter G. Berendsohn	Journal Article	Willdenowia	2021	51	2	251 – 270	Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin (BGBM)
Cactaceae in Flora do Brasil 2020. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Accessed on: 15 Jan. 2025	Daniela C. Zappi, Nigel P. Taylor	Website		2020
Flora do Rio de Janeiro: Cactaceae	Maria de Fátima Freitas, Alice Calvente, Diego Rafael Gonzaga	Journal Article	Rodriguésia	2020	71
Neotypification of Rhipsalis rhombea (Rhipsalideae, Cactaceae) and Its Taxonomic History	Ralf Bauer, Nadja Korotkova	Journal Article	Haseltonia	2020	27		95-101	Cactus and Succulent Society of America
Rhipsalis, cactussen uit het tropische woud 2	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2018	97	1	39-44
Rhipsalis, cactussen uit het tropische woud 3	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2018	97	4	163-166
Rhipsalis, cactussen uit het tropische woud 1	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2017	96	6	270-275
Rhipsalis (Cactaceae): loss and gain of floral rewards is mirrored in range sizes and distribution patterns of species	Bernadette Grosse-Veldmann, Stefan Abrahamczyk, Jens Mutke, Wilhelm Barthlott, Maximilian Weigend	Journal Article	Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society	2016	180		491-503
A remarkable new Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) from eastern Brazil	Nigel P. Taylor, Gerardus Olsthoorn, Daniela C. Zappi, Gillian Khew, Dietmar Quandt	Journal Article	Bradleya	2014	32		2-12
A New Subgeneric Classification of Rhipsalis (Cactoideae, Cactaceae)	Alice Calvente	Journal Article	Systematic Botany	2012	37	4	983 – 988	The American Society of Plant Taxonomists
Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Nadja Korotkova	Ph.D. Thesis		2012				Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti	Alice Calvente, Daniela C. Zappi, Félix Forest, Lúcia G. Lohmann	Journal Article	International Journal of Plant Sciences	2011	172	7	902-914
What does it take to resolve relationship and to identify species with molecular markers? An example from the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Nadja Korotkova, Borsch T, Dietmar Quandt, Nigel P. Taylor, Müller K, Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	American Journal of Botany	2011	98		1549-1572
Molecular phylogeny, evolution and systematics of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae)	Alice Calvente	Ph.D. Thesis		2010				Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo
Stem anatomy of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) and its relevance for taxonomy	Alice Calvente, Regina H. P. Andreata, Ricardo C. Vieira	Journal Article	Plant Systematics and Evolution	2008	276	3-4	271-277
A Unique Cactus with Scented and Possibly Bat-Dispersed Fruits: Rhipsalis juengeri	Boris Schlumpberger, Robin A. Clery, Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	Plant Biology	2006	8	2	265-70
The New Cactus Lexicon: Atlas of illustrations	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			104-120	DH Books
The New Cactus Lexicon: Text	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			138-139,142-143,253-257	DH Books
Re-classification of Rhipsalideae, A Polyphyletic Tribe of the Cactaceae Durande	Alexander B. Doweld	Journal Article	Succulents	2001	4	1-2
Die Namen der Gattungen und Arten epiphytischer Kakteen. Teil 1. Rhipsalideae	Ralf Bauer	Journal Article	EPIG	1996	8	2	47-51
Notes towards a Monograph of Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)	Wilhelm Barthlott, Nigel P. Taylor	Journal Article	Bradleya	1995	13		43-79	British Cactus and Succulent Society
Bericht über zwei Vorträge von Myron Kimnach und Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott über ihre Ansichten zur Gattungsgliederung innerhalb der epiphytischen Kakteen	Ralf Bauer	Journal Article	EPIG	1991	3	4	64-71
New names in Rhipsalidinae (Cactaceae)	Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	Bradleya	1987	5		97-100
Chromosome numbers in the tribe Rhipsalinae (Cactaceae)	T. W. J. Gadella, E. Kliphuis, J. Naber	Journal Article	Botaniska notiser	1979	3		294
Rhipsalis pentaptera Pfeiff.	Helmut Oetken	Journal Article	Succulenta	1969	48	1	6-7
Cactus Lexicon	Curt Backeberg, Walther Haage	Book		1966			205,220-222,440-449, 647, 750	Blandford Press Ltd. (1966-1973)
Iets Over Onze Rhipsalideae.	G. D. Duursma	Journal Article	Succulenta	1943	25	1	7
Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural "Bernardino Rivadavia"	Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"	Book		1923	32			Buenos Aires, Imprenta y Casa Editora Coni
The Cactaceae : descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family	Nathaniel Lord Britton, Mary E. Eaton, N. J. Rose, Helen Adelaide Wood	Book		1923	4		208-247	Carnegie Institution of Washington
Cactus culture for amateurs: a concise and practical guide to the management of a little understood family of plants	William Watson	Book		1920				London, "The Bazaar, exchange & mart" office, 1920
The standard cyclopedia of horticulture; a discussion, for the amateur, and the professional and commercial grower, of the kinds, characteristics and methods of cultivation of the species of plants grown in the regions of the United States and Canada for ornament, for fancy, for fruit and for vegetables; with keys to the natural families and genera, descriptions of the horticultural capabilities of the states and provinces and dependent islands, and sketches of eminent horticulturists	Liberty Hyde Bailey	Book		1919	5		2929-2930	New York, Macmillan, 1919 [c1914]
Archivos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro	Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro	Book		1915	1		61-105	Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Botanico
Hortus Mortolensis : enumeratio plantarum in Horto Mortolensi cultarum = Alphabetical catalogue of plants growing in the garden of the late Sir Thomas Hanbury ... at La Mortola, Ventimiglia, Italy	Giardino Botanico Hanbury, Alwin Berger	Book		1912			272-273	London, West, Newman, 1912
Handbuch der Kakteenkultur : kurze Beschreibung der meisten gegenwärtig im Handel befindlichen Kakteen, nebst Angabe zu deren Pflege für Gärtner und Kakteenliebhaber zusammengestellt	Ernst Schelle	Book		1907			226-233	Stuttgart, E. Ulmer, 1907
Icones Selectae Horti Thenensis	M. Èm. de Wildeman	Book		1904	5		135-137
Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen (Monographia cactacearum)	Karl Schumann, Karl Hirscht	Book		1899			618-650	Neudamm [Dębno, Poland?], J. Neumann, 1899
Dictionnaire d'horticulture illustré	D. Bois	Book		1893			1045-1048	P. Klincksieck
Carl Friedrich Forster's Handbuch der Cacteenkunde in ihrem ganzen Umfange :nach dem gegenwartigen Stande der Wissenschaft bearbeitet und durch die seit 1846 begrundetet Gattungen und neu eingefuhrten Arten vermehrt	Carl Friedrich Förster, Theodor Rümpler	Book		1886	2		878-893	Leipzig, Wöller, 1886
Cactaceous Plants Their History & Culture	Lewis Castle	Book		1884			72-74	Printed at the Horticultural Press
Cactaceous plants: their history and culture	R. Lewis Castle	Book		1884			71-75	Horticultural Press
Cactaceous Plants	R. Lewis Castle	Journal Article	The journal of horticulture and cottage gardener	1884	9		333-334
Garten-Zeitung	Ludwig Wittmack, W. Perring	Book		1882	2		47	P. Parey
Plantae diaphoricae florae Argentinae, ó, Revista sistemática de las plantas medicinales, alimenticias ó de alguna otra utilidad y de las venenosas, que son indígenas de la República Argentina ó que, originarias de otros países se cultivan ó se crian éspontáneamente en ella	Georg Hieronymus	Book		1882			128
Flora Brasiliensis, enumeratio plantarum in Brasilia hactenus detectarum :quas suis aliorumque botanicorum studiis descriptas et methodo naturali digestas partim icone illustratas	Karl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, August Wilhelm Eichler, Ignaz Urban, Stephan Endlicher, Eduard Fenzl, Benj. Mary, R. Oldenburg	Book		1869	4	2	266-300	Monachii et Lipsiae [Munich & Leipzig], R. Oldenbourg, 1840-1906
Les Cactées: Histoire, Patrie, Organes de Végétation Inflorescence, Culture, Etc	Charles Antoine Lemaire	Book		1868			78-81	Librairie agricole de la maison rustique
Cacteae in horto Dyckensi cultae anno 1849, secundum tribus et genera digestae : additis adnotationibus botanicis characteribusque specierum in enumeratione diagnostica cactearum Doct. Pfeifferi non descriptarum	Joseph Salm-Reifferscheidt	Book		1850			58-62	Bonnae, Apud Henry & Cohen, typis C. Georgii, 1850
Flore des jardins et des grandes cultures, ou Description des plantes de jardins, d'orangeries et des grandes cultures, leur multiplication, l'epoque de leur fleuraison et de leur fructification, et leur emploi, avec planches gravées, dont une coloriée	Nicolas Charles Seringe	Book		1849			350-359	Lyon, C. Savy, jeune, 1849
Handbuch der Cacteenkunde in ihrem ganzen Umfange. Oder die erfolgreichsten, auf die neuesten Erfahrungen gegrundeten Kultruangaben, sowie ausführliche und genaue Beschreibung und berichtigte Synonymik sämmtlicher bis jetzt bekannt gewordener Cacteen, und überhaupt alles in Bezug auf diese Pflanzenfamilie sonst nur Wissenswerthe. Auf den Grund langjähriger eigener und fremder Erfahrungen	Carl Friedrich Förster	Book		1846			447-462	Leipzig, J.T. Wöller, 1846
Cacteæ in horto dyckensi cultæ anno 1844	Joseph Salm-Reifferscheidt	Book		1845			38-40	E. Typis Crapelet
Abbildung und Beschreibung blühender Cacteen	Louis Pfeiffer, Bernhard Dondorf, Theodor Fischer, Gustav Francke, Friedrich Otto, Joseph Prestele	Book		1843			9-10	Cassel, T. Fischer, 1843-1850
Repertorium botanices systematicae	Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers	Book		1842	2		342-345	Sumtibus Friderici Hofmeister
Nomenclator botanicus hortensis...	Gustav Heynhold	Book		1840	2		98-99	Arnoldischen Buchhandlung
Herbier général de l'amateur, deuxième série, contenant les figures coloriées des plantes nouvelles, rares et intéressantes des jardins de l'Europe, avec leurs description, histoire, propriétés et culture. Par M. le Dr. Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, Chevalier de l'ordre royal de la Légion-d'Honneur, Membre de la Société royale et centrale d'agriculture, de celle d'horticulture de Paris, et de plusieurs autres Sociétés savantes. Auteur de la 1re. série. ; Tome premier	Loiseleur-Deslongchamps	Book		1839			4-5	Paris : Audot, éditeur du Bon Jardinier, rue du Paon, 8, École de médecine (Paris. -- Imprimerie de Fain et Thunot, ...)
Synopsis plantarum; seu, Enumeratio systematica plantarum plerumque adhuc cognitarum cum differentiis specificis et synonymis selectis ad modum Persoonii elaborata	David Nathanael Friedrich Dietrich	Book		1839			117-118	B. F. Voigtii
Enumeratio diagnostica cactearum hucusque cognitarum	Louis Pfeiffer	Book		1837			129-142	Sumtibus L. Oehmigke
Histoire naturelle des végétaux. Phanérogames, Phanérogames	Edouard Spach	Book		1834	13		388-395	Librairie encyclopédique de Roret
Nouvelle Espèce de Rhipsalis (Hariota), Par MM. F. Otto et Alb. Dietrich. (Atig. Gartenz., mars 1841.)	Charles Lemaire	Journal Article	Herbier General de l’Amateur	1834	3	2	4-5
Annales de flore et de pomone :ou journal des jardins et des champs	Libraire-Éditeur Rousselon	Book		1832	9		257-268, 271-272	Paris, Rousselon, Libraire-Éditeur, 1832-[1848]

Reduced Synonyms

Name	Reduced by	Published Date	Published In
Hariota pentaptera (Pfeiff. ex A.Dietr.) Lem.	Barthlott & Taylor (1995)	1839	Cact. Gen. Sp. Nov.: 75. 1839
Hariota pentaptera (Pfeiff. ex A.Dietr.) Doweld	Korotkova (2021)	2002	Sukkulenty 4(1-2): 39. 2002 ["2001"]
Hatiora pentaptera (Pfeiff. ex A.Dietr.) Lem.,		1839	Cact. Gen. Sp. Nov.: 75. 1839
Hariota pentaptera Lem. ex C.F.Först.	Barthlott & Taylor (1995)	1846	Handb. Cacteenk.: 453. 1846
Rhipsalis pentagona C.F.Först.	Britton & Rose (1923)	1846	Handb. Cacteenk.: 453. 1846