Home | > | List of families | > | Cactaceae | > | Rhipsalis | > | baccifera |
Synonyms: |
Hariota parasitica sensu Hiern Rhipsalis cassytha Gaertn. |
Common names: | Mistletoe cactus (English) |
Frequency: | Frequent in appropriate habitats in the E Division |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Much branched succulent epiphyte or occasional lithophyte. Leaves 0 but minute triangular scales are present with or without short stiff bristles. Flowers lateral, small, solitary, white or yellowish. Perianth segments 9-12; outer segments triangular; inner segments oblong. Style thick with 3-5 stigmas. Fruit a spherical berry, 5-8 mm in diameter, pellucid, whitish. |
Notes: | R. baccifera is the only species of Cactaceae, which is native in Africa. Several other members of this New World family are known as naturalized exotics. |
Derivation of specific name: | baccifera: bearing berries |
Habitat: | Growing on trees at the edges of evergreen and riverine forest or in moist Brachystegia woodland on cliff sites. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1550 m |
Flowering time: | Dec - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout tropical Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Florida, West Indies and parts of Central and South America |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Thursday 17 March 2016 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 610. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 47. As Rhipsalis baccifera baccifera Gonçalves, M.L. (1978). Cactaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 506 - 508. (Includes a picture). Goodier, R. & Phipps, J.B. (1961). A revised checklist of the vascular plants of the Chimanimani Mountains Kirkia 1 Page 59. as Rhipsalis cassutha Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 31. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 63. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 72. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 90. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Cactaceae | > | Rhipsalis | > | baccifera |