Pfeiffera

Pfeiffera
File:Pfeiffera iantothele.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Phyllocacteae
SubTribe	Corryocactinae
Genus	Pfeiffera
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Nyffeler (2000, 2002), Korotkova et al. (2010), and Nyffeler & Eggli (2010).

Etymology

Named in honour of Ludwig Georg Karl Pfeiffer (1805–1877), German physician, botanist, and author of Enumeratio Cactearum.

Description

Pfeiffera is a genus of primarily epiphytic cacti with highly variable stem morphology.

• Habit: Epiphytic, epilithic, or occasionally terrestrial; erect to pendulous.
• Stems: Branched; segments variable in size and shape; cylindrical, angled, or flattened; non-tuberculate.
• Branching: Mesotonic (branching from the middle of segments).
• Areoles: Marginal; bearing small scales.
• Spines: Small; setose to acicular.
• Flowers: Diurnal; lateral; sometimes numerous.
• Flower shape: Funnel-shaped.
• Flower color: Yellowish, orange, or white.
• Reproduction: Sometimes self-fertile.
• Pollination: By insects and hummingbirds.
• Fruits: Globose; spiny, setose or naked; translucent and veined; variable in color (whitish to red-orange); sometimes retaining perianth remnants.
• Seeds: Black, shiny, elongated; with a characteristic long or branched funicle.

Habitat

Occurs in montane environments:

• epiphytic on trees
• epilithic on rocks
• humus pockets in rocky habitats
• associated with bromeliads, orchids, and ferns

Altitude range: approximately 600–2700 m.

Distribution

South America:

• Argentina (Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán)
• Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Tarija)

Taxonomy

A historically controversial genus with significant reclassification.

Key points:

• Initially placed within Rhipsalideae (Britton & Rose, Buxbaum)
• Sometimes included in Rhipsalis or Lepismium (Barthlott, Anderson)
• Molecular studies (Nyffeler, 2000) showed it is not related to Rhipsalideae
• Positioned within Corryocactinae, closer to Andean lineages
• Inclusion in Lepismium would render it paraphyletic
• Korotkova et al. (2010): clarified generic limits
• Lymanbensonia separated as a distinct lineage (Korotkova, 2011)

The genus is accepted as distinct in Lodé (2015).

Species

According to Joël Lodé (2015):

• Pfeiffera asuntapatensis
• Pfeiffera boliviana
• Pfeiffera ianthothele
• Pfeiffera miyagawae
• Pfeiffera monacantha
• Pfeiffera monacantha subsp. kimnachii
• Pfeiffera paranganiensis

Notes

• Strong morphological convergence with Rhipsalideae genera.
• Distinct evolutionary lineage despite epiphytic habit.
• Characteristic seed morphology (elongated with funicle) is diagnostic.
• Important example of molecular data correcting morphology-based taxonomy.
• Closely linked to Andean cloud forest ecosystems.