Schlumbergera orssichiana

Appearance

''Schlumbergera orssichiana'' resembles other species of the genus ''Schlumbergera'' in that it has leafless green stems which act as photosynthetic organs. The stems 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, 5–7.5 cm long by 3.2–4.5 cm wide.

Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areoles", 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 . They usually appear pinkish in overall colour, as the individual tepals shade from white at the centre to red at the tips. Each flower is about 9 cm long by 9 cm across. The inner petals are fused at the base to form a short "floral tube", about 10 mm long, at the base of which nectar is present. The species can be in flower up to three times a year .

The many stamens 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 5.5–6.5 cm 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 seeds are about 1 mm in diameter.

Distribution

''S. orssichiana'' occurs only in the coastal mountains of south-east Brazil, 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 1,000 metres 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 .

Habitat

''S. orssichiana'' occurs only in the coastal mountains of south-east Brazil, 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 1,000 metres 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 .