Lepismium
| Lepismium | |
|---|---|
| File:Lepismium cruciforme.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Rhipsalideae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Lepismium |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé distinguishes Lepismium from Rhipsalis based on its sunken areoles and more primitive floral structure. |
Etymology
The name is derived from the Greek lepis (scale), referring to the small scales that often subtend the areoles on the stems.
Description
Lepismium consists of epiphytic or lithophytic cacti with pendulous (hanging) or sprawling stems.
- Stems: Varied in shape—can be flat (leaf-like), angled (triangular to hexagonal), or rarely cylindrical. They are typically segmented and branched.
- Areoles: Distinctly sunken into the margins or the surface of the stems. They often bear small hairs or even minute bristles/spines.
- Flowers: Small, lateral (emerging from the sides of the segments), and bell-shaped to rotate. Colors range from white and cream to pink or reddish.
- Fruits: Globose, berry-like, and often brightly colored (red, purple, or white). They remain fleshy when ripe.
- Seeds: Small, dark brown to black, and smooth.
Habitat
The genus grows in tropical and subtropical rainforests, as well as in more seasonally dry forests (Mata Atlântica). They are predominantly epiphytes on mossy tree branches or lithophytes on shaded rock faces. Altitudinal range: 0–1500 m.
Distribution
- South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (center of diversity), and Paraguay.
Species and Subspecies
Following the classification of Lodé (2015), the genus includes 6 recognized species and 2 subspecies:
- Lepismium cruciforme (Type species)
- Lepismium houlletianum
- Lepismium lumbricoides
- Lepismium micranthum
- Lepismium warmingianum
- Lepismium lorentzianum
Taxonomy
The circumscription of Lepismium has changed many times. Lodé follows the molecular data (Korotkova, 2011), which places Lepismium as a basal lineage within the tribe Rhipsalideae. He rejects the inclusion of these species into Rhipsalis, noting that their morphological traits (sunken areoles and spiny seedlings) are significantly different.
