See Calvente Thesis 2010
9. RHIPSALIS OLIVIFERA N.P.Taylor & Zappi, Cactaceae Syst.
lnit. 3: 8. 1997.-
TYPE: BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Teresopolis, Parque Nacional da Serra
dos Orgaos, "caminho para o Campo das Antas", 1600-1800m,
Feb. 1983, Martinelli 9038 (holotypus: RB!; isotypus: K!).
Epiphyte , 1 .5-2 m long, branching apical. Stem segments
flattened to rarely triangular in longitudinal section, 0.5-2 mm diam,
medium green, slightly succulent but flexible, monomorphic, 12.5-27
cm long, base attenuate to almost cylindric, apex truncate, wings 2,
(0.7-)1 .3-3.6 cm wide, margin crenate to lobed, plane to undulate,
with 3-6 mm projections, midrib 1.7-4.5 mm diam, cydrindrical. Areoles
between margin projections, 2-5.5 apart, first of segment 6-13 cm distant
from segment base; when sterile 2-4 mm diam, glabrous or with scarce
vestigial hairs; when fertile 2-5 mm diam, with 0-3 acicular scales,
scarce hair at margin, 1-5 flowers/fruits. Flowers 13-16 mm diam; pericarpel
2.4-4 X 3.3-4.5 mm, turbinate, greenish, white with pink apex, with
1-4 sepaloid bracts; with 2-3 sepaloid tepals, 1.2-2.5 mm long and 7-8
petaloid tepals, 3.5-1.1 X 2.5-4.4 mm, oblong to elliptic, patent to
reflexed, yellowish, external pinkish or with pinkish apex, apex attenuate
to acute, rounded or mucronate, curved inwards to cucullate, margin
straight. Style 6-7 mm long; stigma with 3-4 lobes, 1-1.5 mm long, sagitate,
erect to spreading. Ovules in 3-4 incomplete septa, funicle short (<
0.2 mm long). Stamens 80-130, 3-7 mm long, internal shorter, facing
inwards, white. Nectary 0.3-1 mm long. Fruit 5-7 X 5.5-6.6 mm, globoid,
whitish at base, tinged dark red at apex with 1 deltoid scale (1 X 1.6
mm). Figure 4; D,I.
Notes; R. olivifera is easily identified by the
pale-pinkish flowers, and large stem segments, with margins presenting
lobed projections. The young areoles can present several long acicular
scales (up to 3 mm).
Habitat and distribution: Occurs in montane Atlantic Forest
in the "Serra dos Orgaos" and "Serra da Mantiqueira"
(Brazil). Figure 10.
Rhipsalis olivifera N P Taylor & Zappi in
CCI 3. 1997
Differs from R. elliptica and R. pachyptera
by the olive shaped fruit of a greenish-brown (olive) colour.
Holotype: Rio de Janeiro, Mun. Teresopolis, Parque Nacional Serra dos
Orgaos, on the road to campo das Antas, 1600-1800m. 1 Feb. 1983, G.
Martinelli (and E. Simonis) 9038 (RB 212172; K. iso)
Desc from Hunt 2006.
Body pendent up to 2m, olive to yellow green; branch segments flattened,
arising 2-4 together, elliptic-obovate, cuneate at base, margins crenate,
12 –25 x 4-9cm; areoles 2-4cm apart, 2-5(-7) mm from branch segment
margin, spines nil; flowers1-3(-5) per areole, 1cm; inner tepals 3-5,
greenish; stigma 4-5; fruit ovoid to elongate, truncate, 6x5-6mm, green.
Sympatric with R. oblonga and R. pachyptera and most
nearly resembling R. elliptica, but with fruits like miniature
green olives.
|