Rhipsalis saglionis treated as a synonym of R. cereuscula in Britton & Rose

For reference, Loefgren's description of Rhipsalis saglionis Lem. on p. 79 is translated, too.

Rhipsalis saglionis Lem.

S. D. Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1824. p. 40. 1849 p. 61 and 230. Otto in Walp. Repert. II. 936 (1843); Forst Handb. 461; ed. II. 891; Lab. Mon. 442; K. Sch. Fl. Bras. IV. II. 278. Mon. Cact. 627.
Rh. brachiata Hook pat. Bot. Mag. t. 4039.
Hariota saglionis Lem. Cact. aliq. nov. 39. (1838).

(Latin text translated)

Not much branching from below, very much branched above; with heteromorph branches; the lower and secondary branches are long, cylindrical and dark green; the upper and ultimate branches are very short, 4 - 5-angled, light green and sometimes tinged with red, dichotomous or 3-verticillate; the areoles of the young branches are sparcely woolly and furnished with 2-4 short bristles; the flowers are almost terminal, white, silky, (submagoris), more or less campanulate with upright stigma; the berry is pyriform or obconic, white.

(Here ends the original Latin text. Then the original text continues in Portuguese, translated below.)

A very much branched plant with primary branches almost erect, the next ones pendulous, cylindrical, 3 - 4 mm thick, dark green, up to 20 - 30 cm. long; the small branches or segments are short, 1 - 3 cm long, 4 - 5-angled, light green; the areoles are closely set and with thin, short woolly hairs and sometimes without bristles, often dark red. The young shoots now and then become more than 60 cm long and are erect and spread out fanlike.

The flowers are campanulate, always solitary at the areoles (in S. Paulo), approx. 15 mm. long, with 12 - 15 perianth segments, outer ones small, scalelike, gradually getting larger towards the inner ones, which are white, almost hyaline, and which have acute tips which often are slightly rose-colored; the silky sheen is characteristic for the species. The stamens are in great number and very unequal in size, with white filaments and anthers always enclosed. The style is altogether white, longer than the perianth, with 4 radiating, slightly curved stigma lobes. The berry is small, obconical, white.

It is interesting that this species has been described as originating solely from Uruguay, where it had been collected by Lorentz and Sellow. However, we know it from many locations in the State of S. Paulo, from Uberaba, and it certainly also would be found in other neighbouring states. It was cultivated in the Botanical Garden of S. Paulo.

One of the main distinctions of this species are its truncated berries, a trait which it shares with the species salicornioides and cribrata, a species which Prof. Schumann did not accept because he had not seen it. In the description of this species we turn to this question.

(page 80 of original)

Var. a. rubrodiscus v. n.

(Latin diagnosis, translated to English)

Habit and habitat as the type. Smaller flowers, red disc, ovary, and base of filaments.

(Original text continues in Portuguese)

From Caldas we received this new variety, which, as long as it did not flower, we took for Rh. saglionis. When the flowers had appeared, we immediately could see that in spite of the perfect resemblance, it could not be the type. Mainly it differs by the size of the flower, which only reaches half the size or 7 - 8 mm; the petals appear more white as those of the type due to the contrast with the red ovary and the receptacle of the same colour, yet, the petals have the same silky sheen and the same form. The stamens are equal as well, except that the base of the filaments is red as the receptacle, which is never the case with the type of the species. Both are cultivated in the Botanical Garden of S. Paulo.

Rhipsalis saglionis Lem.

S. D. Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1824. p. 40. 1849 p. 61 e 230. Otto in Walp. Repert. II. 936 (1843);
Forst Handb. 461; ed. II. 891; Lab. Mon. 442; K. Sch. Fl. Bras. IV. II. 278. Mon. Cact. 627.
Rh. brachiata Hook pat. Bot. Mag. t. 4039.
Hariota saglionis Lem. Cact. aliq. nov. 39. (1838).

Inferne sparse ramosa, superne ramosissima; ramis heteromorphis; inferiores et secundariis longis, cylindricis, obscure-viridis; superiores vel ultimis curtissisimis, 4-5-gonis, clarius viridis vel interdum rubescentes, dichotomis vel 3-verticillatis; areolis ramulorum novellis parce lanatis, setulis 2-4 instructis; floribus subterminalibus, albis, sericatis, submagoris, plus minus campanulatis, estigma erectus; bacca pyriforme, vel obconica, alba.

Planta bastante ramosa, com ramos primarios suberectos, depois pendulos, cylindricos, 3-4 mm. grossos, verde-escuros, até 20-30 centim. longos; os raminhos ou articulos são curtos, 1-3 ctms. longos, 4-5-angulados, verde-claros; os areolos são approximados com raros pellos lanosos, curtos e, ás vezes, sem cerdas, muitas vezes vermelho-escuros. Os brotos novos (turiões), ás vezes, além de 60 ctms. de comprimento, rectos, flabelliformes.

As flôres são campanuladas, sempre solitarias nos areolos (em S. Paulo), cerca de 15 mm. longas, com 12-15 folhas perigonaes, sendo as exteriores pequenas, escamiformes, augmentando para as interiores que são brancas, quasi hyalinas e com a extremidade muitas vezes levemente rosea, agudas; o brilho sedoso é caracteristico para a especie. Os estames são muitos e muito desiguaes em tamanho, de filamentos e antheras brancos, sempre inclusos. O estilete é todo branco, mais longo que o perigonio, com estigma 4-radiado, de raios levemente curvos. A baga é obconica, pequena, branca.

E' interessante estar esta especie descripta como originaria unicamente de Uruguay, onde foi colleccionada por Lorentz e Sellow. Conhecemol-a, entretanto, de muitos logares no Estado de S. Paulo, desde Uberaba, e certamente existe tambem nos outros Estados visinhos. Estava cultivada no Horto Botanico Paulista.

Um dos principaes distinctivos desta especie são as suas bagas truncadas, caracteristico que ella partilha com as especies salicornioides e cribrata, especie que o professor Schumann não acceita por não ter visto. Ao descrever esta especie voltaremos á questão.

Var. a. rubrodiscus v. n.

Habitus et habitat ut in typo. Flos minora, discus, ovario et basi filamenta rubri.

Recebemos de Caldas esta nova variedade que, emquanto não tinha flores, tivemos por Rh. saglionis. Quando as flores appareceram, vimos logo que, apezar da semelhança perfeita, não podia ser o typo. Differe primeiro pelo tamanho da flor que sómente chega á metade ou 7-8 millim. parecendo as petalas mais alvas que no typo por causa do contraste com o ovario rubro e o receptaculo da mesma côr, porém, as petalas tem o mesmo brilho sedoso e a mesma fórma. O estames são tambem eguaes, excepto terem a base dos filamentos vermelha como o receptaculo, o que nunca acontece com a especie typica. Ambas estão em cultivo no Horto Botanico Paulista.