Schlumbergera orssichiana
Encyclopedia
Schlumbergera orssichiana is a species of plant
in the Cactaceae family. 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
.
Schlumbergera
in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic
organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges, where there are generally two to three, and at the ends. Individual segments are large, 5 – long by 3.2 – wide.
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
s", occur at the end of the segments. The areoles are where the flower buds appear. The large flowers, which open widely, are held at a slight angle to the vertical, with the higher side somewhat different from the lower side (slightly zygomorphic). They usually appear pinkish in overall colour, as the individual tepal
s shade from white at the centre to red at the tips. Each flower is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long by 9 cm (3.5 in) across. The inner petals are fused at the base to form a short "floral tube", about 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) long, at the base of which nectar is present. The species can be in flower up to three times a year (August, November and March in cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere).
The many stamen
s are arranged in two series, which is a distinctive characteristic of the genus. The inner stamens are fused at the base to form a short tubular structure. The outer stamens arise from along the floral tube. Each is about 5.5 – long, with white filaments and yellow anthers and pollen. The style is dark red and has a stigma
with 6–8 lobes; the style plus stigma is roughly the same length as the stamens. If the flower is fertilized, a fleshy fruit
forms which is greenish yellow to cream with five or six ribs. The dark brown seed
s are about 1 mm in diameter.
to create the hybrid S. × reginae or S. Reginae Group.
, in the states of São Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro
, in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Morro dos Três Picos in the Serra do Mar
and the Serra da Bocaina
. Plants are found at altitudes of around 1000 metres (3,280.8 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. orssichiana grows on trees (epiphytic
).
, which has been called S. × reginae McMillan or S. Reginae Group. The hybrid S. orssichiana × S. russelliana
has also been made in cultivation; it has been given the name S. × eprica Süpplie. Cultivars of both of these two hybrids are sometimes called "The Queens".
These plants and their cultivation are discussed at Schlumbergera: Cultivation.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to a small area of the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is moist forest. It grows on trees as an epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
. It is in the same genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
as the popular houseplant known as Christmas Cactus or Thanksgiving Cactus
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera is a genus of cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins...
.
Description
Schlumbergera orssichiana resembles other species of the genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera is a genus of cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins...
in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
organs. The stems (cladodes) are composed of strongly flattened segments, which have "teeth" of varying shapes along their edges, where there are generally two to three, and at the ends. Individual segments are large, 5 – long by 3.2 – wide.
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areole
Areole
Areoles are an important diagnostic feature of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. The areoles on cacti are clearly visible; they generally appear as small light- to dark-colored bumps, out of which grow clusters of spines...
s", occur at the end of the segments. The areoles are where the flower buds appear. The large flowers, which open widely, are held at a slight angle to the vertical, with the higher side somewhat different from the lower side (slightly zygomorphic). They usually appear pinkish in overall colour, as the individual tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s shade from white at the centre to red at the tips. Each flower is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long by 9 cm (3.5 in) across. The inner petals are fused at the base to form a short "floral tube", about 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) long, at the base of which nectar is present. The species can be in flower up to three times a year (August, November and March in cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere).
The many stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s are arranged in two series, which is a distinctive characteristic of the genus. The inner stamens are fused at the base to form a short tubular structure. The outer stamens arise from along the floral tube. Each is about 5.5 – long, with white filaments and yellow anthers and pollen. The style is dark red and has a stigma
Stigma (botany)
The stigma is the receptive tip of a carpel, or of several fused carpels, in the gynoecium of a flower. The stigma receives pollen at pollination and it is on the stigma that the pollen grain germinates. The stigma is adapted to catch and trap pollen with various hairs, flaps, or sculpturings...
with 6–8 lobes; the style plus stigma is roughly the same length as the stamens. If the flower is fertilized, a fleshy fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
forms which is greenish yellow to cream with five or six ribs. The dark brown seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s are about 1 mm in diameter.
Taxonomy
The species was discovered in the wild by Countess Orssich (hence the specific epithet orssichiana) and cultivated in her garden in Brazil, from where specimens were sent to Europe. It was given a scientific name in 1978 by Wilhelm A. Barthlott and A.J.S. McMillan. S. orssichiana has been hybridized in cultivation with S. truncataSchlumbergera truncata
Schlumbergera truncata is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. 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...
to create the hybrid S. × reginae or S. Reginae Group.
Distribution and habitat
S. orssichiana occurs only in the coastal mountains of south-east BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in the states of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
, in the southernmost part of the tropics. Sites where it has been found include Morro dos Três Picos in the Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar
Serra do Mar is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state of Espírito Santo to southern Santa Catarina, although some include Serra Geral in the Serra do Mar, in which case this range...
and the Serra da Bocaina
Serra da Bocaina National Park
Serra da Bocaina National Park is a national park of Brazil.The National Park of Serra da Bocaina located on the border between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil....
. Plants are found at altitudes of around 1000 metres (3,280.8 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. orssichiana grows on trees (epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
).
Cultivation
S. orssichiana is mainly grown in the form of its hybrids with other species of the genus, particularly the artificial hybrid S. orssichiana × S. truncataSchlumbergera truncata
Schlumbergera truncata is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. 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...
, which has been called S. × reginae McMillan or S. Reginae Group. The hybrid S. orssichiana × S. russelliana
Schlumbergera russelliana
Schlumbergera russelliana is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. 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...
has also been made in cultivation; it has been given the name S. × eprica Süpplie. Cultivars of both of these two hybrids are sometimes called "The Queens".
These plants and their cultivation are discussed at Schlumbergera: Cultivation.
External links
- The Schlumbergera orssichiana Story – in German, but has many photographs of S. orssichiana