Schlumbergera truncata

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Schlumbergera truncata
Schlumbergera truncata (Exotic Flora Plate 20).jpg
Plate from Hooker's Exotic Flora
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Schlumbergera
Species:
S. truncata
Binomial name
Schlumbergera truncata
(Haw.) Moran
Synonyms

See text

Schlumbergera truncata, the false Christmas cactus, [1] is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. Because it produces a flower, it also belongs to the taxonomic group Magnoliophyta and is thus considered an angiosperm. [2] It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests. It is the parent or one of the parents of the houseplants called Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus or zygocactus, among other names.

Contents

Description

Schlumbergera truncata resembles other species of the genus Schlumbergera in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have two or three "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges and at the ends. The ends of the stems are "cut off" (truncated) rather than pointed. Individual segments are about 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) long by 1.5–3.5 cm (0.6–1.4 in) wide at full maturity. Variation in size frequently depends on age of segment and access to sunlight and water. [3]

Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areoles", occur between two teeth at the end of segments. The areoles, which have brown wool and bristles up to 3 mm (0.1 in) long, are where the flower buds appear and additional segments grow. The flowers are held at a constant angle somewhat above the horizontal with the higher side different from the lower side (zygomorphic, specifically bilaterally symmetrical). The flowers are about 6.5–8 cm (2.6–3.1 in) long by 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in) across. There are six to eight tepals, which may be of various colours, including shades of red, orange, pink and white. The outer tepals (those at the base of the flower) are shorter and bent backwards, the inner tepals are longer and fused together at the base to form a floral tube; nectar is produced at the base of this tube. The lower inner petals are bent backwards so that the upper inner petals appear longer. Plants flower in the autumn: around May in their natural habitat, in October to November in cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere; short days and long nights are necessary to induce flowering. [3] Due to its unique flowering schedule, these structures are significant for differentiating between different Cactaceae species as they affect characteristics like nectar production and function. [4]

A characteristic of the genus Schlumbergera is that the many stamens are arranged in two series: the inner stamens form a ring around the style; the outer stamens arise from the floral tube. The filaments of the stamens are white, the anthers and pollen being yellow. The style has six to eight lobes at its end and is dark red. [3] Additionally, Schlumbergera truncata specifically has unique reproductive characteristics from that of Schlumbergera as a whole which includes varied seed development, germination, and fruit production. [5]

When ripe, the fruit is red, pear-shaped, and about 1.2 cm (0.5 in) long or exceptionally up to 2.3 cm (0.9 in) long. The shiny seeds are black, each with a diameter of about 1 mm (0.04 in). [3]

Taxonomy

Schlumbergera truncata is considered to be part of the Magnoliophyta taxonomic group and can also be referred to as an angiosperm. [2] The epithet truncata means "abruptly cut off", and refers to the shape of the ends of the stems. [6]

The species was first properly named for science by Haworth in 1819 as Epiphyllum truncatum. His name was based on living specimens growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1818. (However these do not appear to have been preserved, so an illustration published by W.J. Hooker in 1822 was designated as the "neotype" by N.P. Taylor.) Like others in the genus, the species was transferred to Zygocactus by Schumann in 1890, and then to Schlumbergera by Moran in 1953. Some other names in the genus Epiphyllum are now considered to be synonyms of S. truncata. [7]

Synonyms include: [7] [8]

Epiphyllum bridgesiiLem., Schlumbergera bridgesii(Lem.) Loefgr. and Epiphyllum ruckerianumsensu Lem. have sometimes been treated as synonyms of S. truncata, but are regarded by David Hunt as synonyms of the hybrid S. × buckleyi. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Schlumbergera truncata occurs only in a small area of the coastal mountains of south-east Brazil, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, located in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include the Organ Mountains (Serra dos Órgãos) in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos and in the Serra do Mar near to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Plants grow at altitudes of 700–1,000 metres (2,300–3,300 ft). Because of their altitude and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal mountains have high humidity – warm moist air is forced upwards into higher, colder locations where it condenses. S. truncata usually grows on trees (epiphytic), [3] or on rocks (epilythic). [8] The native status of S. truncata has become confused because European cultivars were deliberately introduced into some areas, including the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, by the Brazilian Agricultural Department, to compensate for over-collecting of wild plants. [9] These climates are effective for Schlumbergera truncata due to its moisture content preferences. Humidity and moisture have significant affects on viability of pollen, thus shaping climate distribution for outdoor growth. [10]

Cultivation

Schlumbergera truncata is mainly grown as cultivars of the species or of its hybrids with other species of the genus, particularly S. russelliana. These plants and their cultivation are discussed at Schlumbergera: Cultivation. There are cultivation differences between Schlumbergera truncata and other Schlumbergera species largely because Schlumbergera truncata are the variety that grow outdoors rather than the houseplants which are grown and sold commercially. Some Schlumbergera truncata plants have self fertilizing abilities whereas the majority of Schlumbergera species are self-incompatible. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cactus</span> Family of mostly succulent plants, adapted to dry environments

A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis.

<i>Schlumbergera</i> Genus of plants (cacti)

Schlumbergera is a small genus of cacti with six to nine species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. These plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity, and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins. Most species of Schlumbergera have stems which resemble leaf-like pads joined one to the other and flowers which appear from areoles at the joints and tips of the stems. Two species have cylindrical stems more similar to other cacti.

<i>Epiphyllum</i> Genus of cacti

Epiphyllum is a genus of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America and South America. Common names for these species include climbing cacti, orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taxonomy of the Cactaceae</span> Classification of cacti

In 1984, the International Organization for Succulent Plant Study set up a working party, now called the International Cactaceae Systematics Group, to produce a consensus classification of the cactus family, down to the level of genus. Their classification has been used as the basis for systems published since the mid-1990s. Treatments in the 21st century have generally divided the family into around 125–130 genera and 1,400–1,500 species, which are then arranged in a number of tribes and subfamilies. However, subsequent molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that a very high proportion of the higher taxa are not monophyletic, i.e. they do not contain all of the descendants of a common ancestor. As of August 2023, the internal classification of the family Cactaceae remained uncertain and subject to change. A classification incorporating many of the insights from the molecular studies was produced by Nyffeler and Eggli in 2010.

<i>Hatiora</i> Genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae

Hatiora is a small genus of epiphytic cacti which belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae. Recent taxonomic studies have led to the three species formerly placed in subgenus Rhipsalidopsis being removed from the genus, including the well known and widely cultivated ornamental plants known as Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus.

<i>Disocactus crenatus</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus crenatus, commonly known as the crenate orchid cactus, is a species of cactus cultivated for its large flowers. It is a critical parent plant in creating epiphyllum hybrids commonly cultivated worldwide.

<i>Aporocactus flagelliformis</i> Species of cactus

Aporocactus flagelliformis, the rattail cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, and is the more cultivated of the two species in the genus Aporocactus. Due to its ease of cultivation and attractive floral displays, it is often grown as an ornamental potted plant.

<i>Disocactus phyllanthoides</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus phyllanthoides, the nopalxochitl or German empress, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae. It is commonly grown as an ornamental houseplant. It is one of the three major species involved in creating the widely grown epiphyllum hybrids or "epis". The others are Disocactus speciosus and Disocactus crenatus.

<i>Disocactus anguliger</i> Species of cactus

Disocactus anguliger, commonly known as the fishbone cactus or zig zag cactus, is a cactus species native to Mexico. The species is commonly grown as an ornamental for its fragrant flowers in the fall.

Schlumbergera kautskyi is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus as the popular houseplant known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.

<i>Schlumbergera microsphaerica</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera microsphaerica is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a limited area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is rocky areas above 2,600 m (8,500 ft). It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus as the popular house plant known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.

<i>Schlumbergera opuntioides</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera opuntioides is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitats are humid forests and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is in the same genus as the popular house plant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus.

<i>Selenicereus grandiflorus</i> Species of nocturnal cactus native to Central America and the Caribbean

Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus, large-flowered cactus, sweet-scented cactus or vanilla cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids. It is often confused with the genus Epiphyllum.

Schlumbergera orssichiana is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte. It is in the same genus as the popular houseplant known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.

<i>Schlumbergera russelliana</i> Species of cactus

Schlumbergera russelliana is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil where its natural habitat is moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte. It is one of the parents of many of the popular houseplants known as Christmas cactus or Thanksgiving cactus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhipsalideae</span> Tribe of cacti

The Rhipsalideae are a small tribe of cacti, comprising four or five genera. They grow on trees (epiphytes) or on rocks (lithophytes), where they either hang down or form creeping or upright shrubs. Their flowers open in the day and remain open at night; they may be either radially symmetrical (regular) or bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic). The fruits are berry-like, fleshy with smallish seeds.

<i>Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri</i> Species of cactus

Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, synonyms Schlumbergera gaertneri and Hatiora gaertneri, is a species of epiphytic cactus which belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae. Together with the hybrid with R. rosea, Rhipsalidopsis × graeseri, it is known, in English speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, as Easter cactus or Whitsun cactus and is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylocereeae</span> Tribe of cacti

The Hylocereeae are a tribe of cacti. Most are found in the tropical forests of Central and northern South America, and are climbers or epiphytes, unlike most cacti. The tribe includes between six and eight genera in different circumscriptions. The plants known as "epiphyllum hybrids" or "epiphyllums", widely grown for their flowers, are hybrids of species within this tribe, particularly Disocactus, Pseudorhipsalis and Selenicereus, less often Epiphyllum, in spite of the common name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epiphyllum hybrid</span> Hybrid cactus

Epiphyllum hybrids, epiphyllums, epicacti, or just epis, also known as orchid cacti, which are widely grown for their flowers, are artificial hybrids derived primarily from species of the genus Disocactus. These Disocactus species are not true epiphyllums, but they used to be included in the genus Epiphyllum.

<i>Strophocactus wittii</i> Species of cactus

Strophocactus wittii, synonym Selenicereus wittii, known as the Amazon moonflower, is a species of plant in the genus Strophocactus in the cactus family (Cactaceae), and is one of several species commonly called "moonflowers". It was first described in 1900 by Karl Moritz Schumann and is one of three species of cactus found in the central Amazon basin.

References

  1. ↑ NRCS. "Schlumbergera truncata". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 Magallón, Susana (2009). "Flowering plants (Magnoliophyta)". The Timetree of Life. pp. 161–165. doi:10.1093/oso/9780199535033.003.0016. ISBN   978-0-19-953503-3.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McMillan, A.J.S. & Horobin, J.F. (1995), Christmas Cacti : The genus Schlumbergera and its hybrids (p/b ed.), Sherbourne, Dorset: David Hunt, ISBN   978-0-9517234-6-3 , pp. 18-23
  4. ↑ Almeida, Odair J.G.; Cota-Sánchez, J. Hugo; Paoli, Adelita A.S. (October 2013). "The systematic significance of floral morphology, nectaries, and nectar concentration in epiphytic cacti of tribes Hylocereeae and Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae)". Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 15 (5): 255–268. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2013.08.001.
  5. ↑ Boyle, Thomas H.; Karle, Renate; Han, Susan S. (March 1995). "Pollen Germination, Pollen Tube Growth, Fruit Set, and Seed Development in Schlumbergera truncata and S. ×buckleyi (Cactaceae)". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 120 (2): 313–317. doi: 10.21273/JASHS.120.2.313 .
  6. ↑ Coombes, Allen J. (1994), Dictionary of Plant Names, London: Hamlyn Books, ISBN   978-0-600-58187-1 , p. 168
  7. 1 2 3 Hunt, David (1995), "Appendix I Names and synonyms of the species, subspecies and interspecific hybrids", in McMillan & Horobin 1995, pp. 78–80
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN   978-0-88192-498-5 , p. 625
  9. ↑ McMillan & Horobin 1995 , pp. 55
  10. ↑ Boyle, Thomas H. (September 2001). "Environmental Control of Moisture Content and Viability in Schlumbergera truncata (Cactaceae) Pollen". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 126 (5): 625–630. doi:10.21273/JASHS.126.5.625.
  11. ↑ Brown, D Paul (January 2011). "Self-Fertilization of a Schlumbergera truncata Cultivar: Breakdown of Self-incompatibility". Haseltonia. 16: 54–56. doi:10.2985/1070-0048-16.1.54.
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