User:Nino Barbieri · CC BY-SA 2.5
About
The genus *Schlumbergera sp* includes several species of cacti native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil. These plants are notable for their unique, flattened, leaf-like stems (cladodes) and their ability to form sizeable shrubs that are often cultivated for their vibrant, seasonal blooms.
Field notes
Morphology
The stems are composed of flattened segments (cladodes) with a central core and two or more 'wings,' and are where the areoles occur. The flowers can be radially symmetrical (actinomorphic) or, in most species, are held horizontally with the upper side different from the lower side (zygomorphic). Each flower typically has 20–30 tepals, and the flowers produce nectar in a chamber at the base of the floral tube. The seeds are small, about 1 mm in diameter.
Distribution & habitat
Coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil.
History & etymology
The modern genus *Schlumbergera* was established by Charles Lemaire in 1858, commemorating Frédéric Schlumberger. Lemaire initially placed a plant discovered in Brazil in 1837, which had been named *Epiphyllum russellianum* by William J. Hooker, into the new genus.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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