Rhipsalis rhombea (Salm-Dyck) Pfeiff.

Images | Description | Publications | Reduced Synonyms

Bonn 4478

Unknown clone

Rhipsalis rhombea — Photo: Shacarah Gagnon-Kvale

Unknown clone, somewhat monstrose specimen

Rhipsalis rhombea, somewhat monstrose specimen — Photo: Shacarah Gagnon-Kvale

Botanical illustrations and historical images

Description

The accepted name Rhipsalis rhombea (Salm-Dyck) Pfeiff. was published in Enum. Diagn. Cact.: 130. 1837.

The geographic range is uncertain (no documented materials have been recorded) found at elevations of unreported meters with an endangered status of data deficient.

Rhipsalis rhombea is classified in the subgenus Phyllarthrorhipsalis.

Observed growing as an epiphyte. Overall habit is pendant or semi-erect, branches are dimorphic (more than one stem shape) and acrotonic or mesotonic (stems form from the tips to middle of previous stems).

Stems are 2 to 3 angled, margins have low to deep crenations, at times dentate, at times undulating or frilled (slightly to deeply scalloped, at times serrated like holly), bristles are absent. Basal stems are indeterminate (seasonal growth is various lengths), 20cm x 0.15cm-0.3cm. Main stems are determinate (seasonal growth is about the same length), 5cm-15cm x 2.5cm-4cm.

Flowers are rotate: patent or reflexed (wheel shaped: wide open to reflexed), unreported x 1.1cm-1.6cm. Petals from 5 to 7, sepals from 2 to 3. Inner petals are white, light-yellow, light-yellow-green, light-green or pink, outer petals are white, green, yellow, pink or red. Stamen are white, from 45 to 70. Stigma lobes from 3 to 5. Flower ovary is cylindrical, 0.7cm x 0.5cm.

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 2 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 green, cream, pink, brown or red. Ripe fruit is globose; white, pink, magenta or red, 0.5cm x 0.7cm.

Other notable features:
Certain species can be more prone to producing betalains that color the stems reddish in higher light conditions, R. rhombea is one of them, however stem color is not a good identifying characteristic for any species. It is highly inconsistent within the species populations. There are specimens that maintain varying shades of green stems in higher light conditions. Reported fruit colors also range from white to red. Historically this species was not described well enough to fully determine it's species status, this resulted in a considerable amount of taxanomic confusion. Nadja Korotkova and Ralf Baurer declared a neotype and a full description was provided in 2020¹. This species was and still is commonly confused with R. oblonga and R. crispata. It is easily distinguished by the often much smaller stems, predominantly white smaller flowers, and smaller typically magenta or red fruit (although white fruiting specimen exist). thinner stemmed specimen can present with undulating or frilly stem margins, but that is not a good idententifying characteristic for this species as R. barthlottii, R. crispata, R. oblonga, R. cuneata, R. goebeliana, and R. occidentalis at least, also present the same characteristic.

¹Neotypification of Rhipsalis rhombea (Rhipsalideae, Cactaceae) and Its Taxonomic History, Ralf Bauer, Nadja Korotkova, Haseltonia:27, 2020

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 rhombea 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
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
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)
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
Molecular phylogeny, evolution and systematics of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae)	Alice Calvente	Ph.D. Thesis		2010				Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo
The New Cactus Lexicon: Text	David Hunt, Nigel P. Taylor, Graham Charles	Book		2006			138-139,142-143,253-257	DH Books
The genus Rhipsalis Gärtner (Cactaceae) in the State of São Paulo-I: species with flatened joints	Julio Antonio Lombardi	Journal Article	Acta Botanica Brasilica	1995	9	1
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
Rhipsalis rauhiorum Barthlott – ein schöner Epiphyt aus Südamerika	Ralf Bauer	Journal Article	Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten	1989	10	12	308-309
New names in Rhipsalidinae (Cactaceae)	Wilhelm Barthlott	Journal Article	Bradleya	1987	5		97-100
Rhipsalis occidentalis Barthlott et Rauh. Eine neue Art mit blattartig abgeflachten Sprossen aus Ecuador und Peru	Wilhelm Barthlott, Werner Rauh	Journal Article	Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten	1987	38	1	16-19
Rhipsalis rhombea	Klaus Liebheit	Journal Article	Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten	1980	31	9	258-259
Cactus Lexicon	Curt Backeberg, Walther Haage	Book		1966			205,220-222,440-449, 647, 750	Blandford Press Ltd. (1966-1973)
Über Rhipsalis	Erich Schäfer	Journal Article	Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten	1962	13	5	65-69
Iets Over Onze Rhipsalideae.	G. D. Duursma	Journal Article	Succulenta	1943	25	1	7
Notiser från Lunds Botaniska Trädgård.	Hakon Hjelmqvist	Journal Article	Botaniska notiser	1941	4		343-361
Het Leekenhoekje.	J. M. van den Houten	Journal Article	Succulenta	1936	18	1	8-10
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
Beihefte zum botanischen Centralblatt. Erste Abteilung, Anatomie, Histologie, Morphologie und Physiologie der Pflanzen		Book		1920	37		221	Verlag von G. Thiem
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
Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde		Book		1902	12		1902	Neudamm, J. Neumann
Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde		Book		1900	10		32,37,116,125,193	Neudamm, J. Neumann
Icones Selectae Horti Thenensis	M. Èm. de Wildeman	Book		1900	2		110-114
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
Revisio generum plantarum vascularium omnium atque cellularium multarum secundum leges nomenclaturae internationales cum enumeratione plantarum exoticarum in itinere mundi collectarum, mit erläuterungen	Otto Kuntze	Book		1891	1		261	A. Felix
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
Refugium botanicum : or figures and descriptions from living specimens, of little known or new plants of botanical interest	John Gilbert Baker, H. G. Reichenbach, W. Wilson Saunders	Book		1870	3		152
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
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
Cereus rhombeus Salm-Dyck	Bauer & Korotkova (2020)	1834	Hort. Dyck.: 341. 1834
Hariota rhombea (Salm-Dyck) Kuntze	Bauer & Korotkova (2020)	1891	Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 263. 1891
Epiphyllum crenulatum Pfeiff.	Bauer & Korotkova (2020)	1837	Enum. Diagn. Cact.: 130. 1837
Epiphyllum rhombeum Pfeiff.	Bauer & Korotkova (2020)	1837	Enum. Diagn. Cact.: 130. 1837
Epiphyllum rhombum Pfeiff.	Bauer & Korotkova (2020)	1837	Enum. Diagn. Cact.: 130. 1837