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Images | Description | Publications | Reduced Synonyms

Bonn 4474, Goiás, Brazil, P. Braun – material sampled, Phylogeny and evolution of the epiphytic Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae), Nadja Korotkova, Ph.D. Thesis, 2012

AJ 122, near waterfall Poço do Diablo, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

GO 438, Itamaraju, Bahia, Brazil

AH 583, Mucugê, Bahia, Brazil

HU 188, Guaira, Parana, Brazil

Utrecht University Botanic Gardens

Unknown clone

GO 520, Planaltino, Bahia, Brazil

Botanical illustrations and historical images

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Description

The accepted name Rhipsalis russellii Britton & Rose was published in Cactaceae 4: 242. 1923. The geographic range is Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo); Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Paraná, São Paulo); Paraguay found at elevations of 50-1050 meters with an endangered status of vulnerable. Rhipsalis russellii is classified in the subgenus Phyllarthrorhipsalis. Observed growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte. Overall habit is pendant or semi-erect, branches are monomorphic (single stem shape) and acrotonic (stems form from the tips of previous stems). Stems are 2 to 5 angled, margins have low to deep crenations (slightly to deeply scalloped), bristles are absent. Main stems are determinate (seasonal growth is about the same length), 10cm-22cm x 1cm-8cm. Flowers are rotate: sub-patent or patent (wheel shaped: partial to wide open), 0.2cm-0.7cm x 0.5cm-0.9cm. Petals from 4 to 5, sepals 3. Inner petals are white, light-yellow, light-yellow-green or light-green, outer petals are white, green, pink, brown or red. Stamen are white, from 9 to 14. Stigma lobes from 3 to 6. Flower ovary is globose or ovoid, 0.3cm x 0.2cm-0.3cm. 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 10 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, green or pink. Ripe fruit is globose; pink, magenta, red or purple, 0.6cm-1cm x 0.5cm-0.9cm. Other notable features: Certain species can be more prone to producing betalains that color the stems reddish in higher light conditions, R. russellii 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. Easily distinguished by the very small predominantly white flowers. The ovary part of the flower is longer than the petal parts just before the flowers open. Fruit color and production is variable, but commonly seen with large groupings of flowers and light purple fruit at the areoles. Comments: Material Sampled, Calvente 309, BA, Brazil (SPF), in Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti1 Material Sampled, Calvente 309, BA, Brazil (SPF), in Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti1 Material Sampled, Calvente 326, ES, Brazil (SPF), in Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti1 Material Sampled, Calvente 326, ES, Brazil (SPF), in Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti1 Material Sampled, Zappi 195, MG, Brazil (K), in Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti1 1Molecular Phylogeny, Evolution, and Biogeography of South American Epiphytic Cacti, Alice Calvente, Daniela C. Zappi, Félix Forest, Lúcia G. Lohmann, International Journal of Plant Sciences, 172:7, 2011 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

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Rhipsalis russellii 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
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-2. accessed on 2025-01-07		Website		2024
Cactaceae in a priority area for conservation in Espírito Santo state	Weverson Cardoso, Alice Calvente, Valquíria Dutra, Cassia Sakuragui	Journal Article	Rodriguésia	2022	73
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)
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden - a visit and a surprise!	Hazel V. Taylor	Journal Article	CactusWorld	2021	39	4	307-314
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
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 1	Aat van Uijen	Journal Article	Succulenta	2017	96	6	270-275
Bahia -- Cactaceae of Boa Nova Park (version 1, 7/2016), fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org	Silvana Santos Simões, Grênivel M. da Costa, Daniela C. Zappi, Lidyanne Yuriko Saleme Aona	Website		2016
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
Minas Gerais - Cactaceae of Ibitipoca State Park (version 2, 12/2020), fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org	Diego Rafael Gonzaga, Samyra Gomes Furtado, Daniela C. Zappi, Luiz Menini Neto	Website		2013
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 of tribe Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae) and taxonomic implications for Schlumbergera and Hatiora	Alice Calvente, Daniela C. Zappi, Félix Forest, Lúcia G. Lohmann	Journal Article	Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution	2011	58	3	456-468
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
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
Cacti of Eastern Brazil	Nigel P. Taylor, Daniela C. Zappi	Book		2004				The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Taxonomy and Phytogeography of the Cactaceae of Eastern Brazil	Nigel P. Taylor	Ph.D. Thesis		2000
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
Iii. Unterfamilie Cereoideae K. Schum. 1898	Friedrich Ritter	Journal Article	Kakteen in Südamerika	1979	20	1	36-47
Cactus Lexicon	Curt Backeberg, Walther Haage	Book		1966			205,220-222,440-449, 647, 750	Blandford Press Ltd. (1966-1973)
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

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Reduced Synonyms

Name	Reduced by	Published Date	Published In