a new species of rhipsalis (cactaceae) from...

Systematic Botany (2009) 34(3) pp 505ndash509copy Copyright 2009 by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists

505

Cactaceae is composed of more than 1500 neotropical spe-cies Only Rhipsalis baccifera (JS Muell) Stearn exceeds this distribution occurring in Africa and part of Asia ( Barthlott 1987 ) The main centers of biodiversity and endemism of Cactaceae are located in Mexico and the southwestern U S A the Andes and Brazil In Brazil two centers of endemism can be found the northeastern Brazilian arid region and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest which is remarkable for the diver-sity and endemism of epiphytic cacti ( Taylor and Zappi 2004 ) The most representative epiphytic cactus genus in this region is Rhipsalis with 37 species 30 of which occur there as endem-ics ( Barthlott and Taylor 1995 )

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is an endangered biodiversity and endemism hotspot ( Mittermeier et al 2000 ) The grow-ing deforestation and accelerated urbanization of this forest is threatening the maintenance of the genetic diversity of sev-eral groups of organisms and in some cases even the survival of many species That is the case for many Rhipsalis species which are commonly even more restricted to specific altitude or climatic conditions inside their areas of occurrence Eight Rhipsalis species are already listed as threatened in the Atlantic Forest and ten do not yet have conservation status defined ( Taylor 1997 Calvente et al 2005 ) Thus increasing the knowl-edge of the Atlantic Forest flora is one important step to encour-age its conservation and the maintenance of its biodiversity

The circumscription of Rhipsalis is mostly unchanged fol-lowing the synopsis proposed by Barthlott and Taylor (1995 ) but three new species of Rhipsalis have been described and one rediscovered since then ( Taylor and Zappi 1997 Taylor 2003 Calvente and Andreata 2007 ) The species are distributed in five subgenera Rhipsalis Calamorhipsalis K Schum Epallagogonium K Schum Phyllarthrorhipsalis Buxb and Erythrorhipsalis A Berger based on a combination of vegetative and reproduc-tive morphological features The shape of the stem segments branching patterns and the position and shape of flowers are the main characters used for separation of the subgenera while differences in relative lengths of primary and secondary stem segments and colors shapes and sizes of flowers and fruits are used to separate species Recent studies have pointed out that epidermal features provide important information for the separation of Rhipsalis taxa ( Calvente et al 2008 )

In this work we describe Rhipsalis aurea a new species from Rio de Janeiro State distinguished by its unique combination of morphological characters The new taxon is positioned in

the subgenus Erythrorhipsalis together with the most simi-lar species R pulchra Loefgr based on the arrangement and shape of the flowers

Materials and Methods

The morphological descriptions and comparisons are based on obser-vations of Rhipsalis specimens in herbaria HB HBR MBM R RB SP SPF ( Holmgren et al 1990 ) and of fresh specimens using a stereomicroscope Materials preserved in 70 ethanol ( Rhipsalis pulchra Calvente 231 232 R aurea Calvente 156 157 SPF) were used for scanning electron micros-copy (SEM) analysis For the preparation of the epidermis samples the material was kept for 72 hr in chloroform to remove the epicuticular wax and critical point dried before metallization

Taxonomic Treatment

Rhipsalis aurea M F Freitas amp J M A Braga sp novmdash TYPE BRAZIL Estado do Rio de Janeiro municiacutepio de Nova Friburgo Macaeacute de Cima estrada de acesso pela BR 116 22deg21prime50rdquoS 42deg30prime08rdquoW 1201 m alt 27 Oct 2004 J M A Braga 7494 (holotype RB isotype R)

Haec species a R pulchra Loefgr similis sed ab ea habito sub-erecto minore segmentis secundariis caulis minoribus crescen-tia definita perigonio flavo-aureo fructu adpresso et globoso distinguitur

Rupicolous or epiphytic 60ndash80 cm long Roots stiff grayish white adventitious roots absent Branches suberect to almost horizontal or slightly pendent erect when young branching subacrotonically or mesotonically Stem segments cylindri-cal primary of indeterminate growth basal 15ndash45 cm long 4ndash6 mm diam suberect stiff woody subsequent 3ndash4 14ndash20 cm long 37ndash47 mm diam suberect stiff but succulent dark green secondary smaller of determinate growth 2ndash9 cm long 12ndash3 mm diam pendent succulent dark green Areoles ca 05 mm diam green reddish or brown scales 1ndash2 ca 05 times 1 mm triangular hairs absent in mature segments and pres-ent in young segments Flowers 16ndash17 times 15ndash2 cm at anthe-sis campanulate not conspicuously immersed in the areoles absent to 1 per areole diurnal inodorous mostly subapical or lateral oblique to slightly perpendicular to the stems peri-carpel 02ndash03 times 04 mm green to yellow turbinate distinctly truncate perigonium segments golden yellow immaculate membranaceous 02ndash13 times 03ndash06 mm gradually longer and thinner towards the center suborbicular triangular to oblong

A New Species of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) from Brazil

Maria de Faacutetima Freitas 1 3 Alice de Moraes Calvente 2 and Joatildeo Marcelo Alvarenga Braga 1

1 Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botacircnico do Rio de Janeiro Diretoria de Pesquisa Cientiacutefica Rua Pacheco Leatildeo 915 CEP 22460-030 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil

2 Laboratoacuterio de Sistemaacutetica Vegetal Departamento de Botacircnica - IB Universidade de Satildeo Paulo Rua do Matatildeo 277 CEP 05508-090 Satildeo Paulo-SP Brazil

3 Author for correspondence (ffreitasjbrjgovbr)

Communicating Editor Daniel Potter

Abstractmdash A new species of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) from Rio de Janeiro State in southwestern Brazil is described and illustrated The new Rhipsalis aurea is circumscribed in the subgenus Erythrorhipsalis and is morphologically most similar to R pulchra Loefgr but is distinct by the smaller sub-erect habit smaller secondary stem segments of determinate growth golden yellow flowers depressed-globose fruit and epidermis and pollen grain features Following the IUCN criteria this new species is vulnerable due to its restricted area of occurrence and reduction of the quality of habitat observed in the pres-ent and projected for the future A taxonomic key to the subgenus Erythrorhipsalis is included

Keywordsmdash Atlantic forest endemic neotropical new species taxonomy

506 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY [Volume 34

Fig 1 Line drawing of Rhipsalis aurea M F Freitas and J M A Braga A Suberect habit B Branches with flowers and immature fruits C Young stem segment displaying areoles with hairs D Disposition of hairs in young areoles E Flower not conspicuously immersed in the areole F Longitudinal section of flower G Immature cupulate strongly truncate fruit ( Braga 7494 )

2009] FREITAS ET AL NEW SPECIES OF RHIPSALIS 507

apex rounded external spreading to suberect internal erect Stamens polystichous spreading or with a discrete separation of the internal facing outwards and external facing inwards yellow filaments 4ndash7 mm long anthers 05ndash06 mm long Ovary 17ndash2 mm long turbinate style 8 mm yellow stigma 4ndash6 lobed 2 mm long yellow oblong patent Fruit indehis-cent glabrous when immature cupulate strongly truncate green when mature 6ndash77 times 6ndash8 mm depressed-globose translucent green Figures 1 ndash 2

Additional Specimens Examinedmdash BRAZIL Estado do Rio de Janeiro municiacutepio de Nova Friburgo Macaeacute de Cima pr Friburgo 1600 m alt 4 Oct 1959 G F J Pabst 5178 (HB HBR) Siacutetio Sophronites 5 Oct 1987 G Martinelli 12252 (RB) Parque Estadual dos Trecircs Picos Siacutetio Vale dos Sonhos 22deg19prime436rdquoS 42deg43prime275rdquoW 1702 m alt 23 Nov 2005 A M Calvente and L M Versieux 156 157 (RB SPF)

Discussion

Rhipsalis aurea is a microendemic rare plant It is known only from five collections from three different localities in the Trecircs Picos State Park in the city of Nova Friburgo Rio de

Janeiro State located in the Serra dos Oacutergatildeos It occurs in high altitude forest between 1200 and 1700 m elevation The vegetation of this region is the Brazilian Atlantic Forest where epiphytic Cactaceae are an important component ( Calvente et al 2005 ) Rhipsalis is particularly well represented in the epiphytic flora of this vegetation and in the Nova Friburgo region nine species are found ( Freitas 1996 Fontoura et al 1997 Calvente et al 2005 ) In addition to housing a state park Nova Friburgo area is known for its rural activities and many agricultural and cattle raising farms are found there Two of the locations where the new species was found show no ade-quate conservation conditions One of them is adjacent to an access road ( Braga 7494 ) and the other one is next to a pas-ture inside the main site of the park ( Calvente 156 157 ) These populations should be monitored to have their conservation assured Following the IUCN (2001 ) criteria this new spe-cies is vulnerable (VU B1abiii iv) due to its restricted area of occurrence and reduction of the quality of habitat observed in the present and projected for the future

The newly described species belongs the subgenus Eryth-rorhipsalis which is morphologically distinct in having cam-panulate flowers not conspicuously immersed in the areoles ( Barthlott and Taylor 1995 ) Wihtin this subgenus R aurea is most similar to R pulchra having mesotonically to subacro-tonically branched stem segments the primary of indeter-minate growth (ie with variable length) and characteristic oblique campanulate flowers However R aurea is distinct in having the primary stem segments stiff and the second-ary stem segments smaller and with determinate growth ( Figs 1 ndash 2 ) These stem characters are also reflected in a quite dis-tinct habit while R pulchra is long pendent R aurea is smaller and suberect In addition R aurea is markedly different in its golden yellow flowers and by the depressed-globose trans-lucent green fruits Rhipsalis pulchra has pinkish-white flow-ers and dark purple to white fruits ( Table 1 ) Loefgren (1915 ) described R pulchra originally from Serra da Mantiqueira but it can also be found in the Serra dos Oacutergatildeos

The mesotonic to subacrotonic branching pattern of both R aurea and R pulchra are characteristic of species of Lepis-mium Pfeiffer as defined by Barthlott (1987 ) However nei-ther species has the connate petals forming a floral tube and the angular pericarpel considered to be diagnostic features for Lepismium species ( Barthlott 1987 ) The flowers of R aurea are similar to the flowers of Hatiora salicornioides (Haw) Britton amp Rose in shape and color However the morphologi-cal characters of R aurea do not match the features of Hatiora Britton amp Rose all species of which have all stem segments with determinate growth and terminal flowers ( Barthlott and Taylor 1995 )

Fig 2 Photographs of Rhipsalis aurea M F Freitas and J M A Braga A Epiphytic plant with flowers and immature fruits B Golden-yellow flower C Floral bud D Mature fruit Note that the fruit is transluscent ( Braga 7494 )

Table 1 Morphological comparison between R aurea and R pulchra

R aurea R pulchra

Habit Smaller and suberect Long pendentStems Primary stiff with indeterminate growth secondary smaller with

determinate growthAll long with indeterminate growth

Flower Golden-yellow White to pinkishStamens Polystichous spreading or with discrete separation of the internal

facing outwards and external facing inwardsInner stamens faced outwards outer stamens facing inwards

Fruit Depressed-globose translucent green Globose to elongate-globose dark purple to whitishEpidermis With smaller stomata at the same level as epidermis cells Sunken bigger stomata complexPollen grains Isolated with exine spiculate Isolated or in tetrads with exine punctate without spicula


Epidermis anatomy has proved useful for separating closely allied Rhipsalis species ( Calvente et al 2008 ) Epidermis and pollen grain features also segregate R aurea from R pulchra The epidermis of R aurea has smaller stomata located at the same level as the regular epidermal cells differing from the bigger sunken stomata complex found in R pulchra ( Fig 3 ) In addition pollen grains of R aurea are solitary and the exine is conspicuously spiculate unlike the pollen grains on R pulchra which are isolated or in tetrads The exine of the lat-ter species is punctate and does not possess spicules ( Fig 3 )

The first collection of R aurea was made in 1959 ( Pabst 5178 ) and was kept in the herbaria HB and HBR The specimen in HB was originally identified as R gibberula F A C Weber a syn-

onym of R floccosa subsp pulvinigera (G A Lindb) Barthlott amp N P Taylor and the specimen at HBR was labeled R rigida Loefgr a synonym of R dissimilis (G A Lindb) K Schum Both identifications are erroneous since these specimens do not have the morphological features of either R floccosa or R dissimilis two species that belong to subgenus Epallagogonium and have flowers conspicuously immersed in the areoles Later three new collections made it possible to describe R aurea as a new species and enabled the link with the collec-tion of Pabst 5178 The specific epithet aurea was chosen as an allusion to the golden yellow flowers not found in any other Rhipsalis species The flowering period of R aurea is during the spring and early summer from October to November

Fig 3 Scanning electron micrographs A-D Rhipsalis aurea ( Calvente 156 157 ) A Epidermis 60times B Epidermis with stomata 500times C Pollen grain 3000times D Pollen grain with spiculate exine 5000times E-H R pulchra ( Calvente 231 232 ) E Epidermis 60times F Epidermis with sunken stomata complex 500times G Pollen tetrad 1000times H Pollen grain with punctate exine 5000times

Key to the Subgenus ERYTHRORHIPSALIS

1 Terminal stem-segments angledribbed or cylindric stem areoles bristly and hairy yet 2 2 Terminal stem-segment short branched erect 2ndash3 cm long pericarpel naked fruit white R cereuscula Haw 2 Terminal stem-segment long pendent up to 3 cm long pericarpel with long bristles fruit pink R pilocarpa Loefr

1 Terminal stem-segments cylindric or clavate areoles naked or with minute trichomes when young 3 3 Stem-segments clavate fruit white to pale pink R clavata F C A Weber 3 Stem segments cylindric fruit whitish green to red 4

4 Perianth segments white and stamens red at base R campos-portoana Loefg 4 Perianth segments white yellow or pinked and stamens yellow to orange 5

5 Perianth segments golden yellow fruits depressed globose translucent R aurea M F Freitas amp J M A Braga 5 Perianth segments white or pink ovoid fruits purplish or whitish 6

6 Branching mesotonic flowers lateral filaments orange R pulchra Loefr 6 Branching acrotonic flowers apical filaments white to purplish 7

7 Stem-segments purplish fruit brilliant purplish magenta R burchellii Britton amp Rose 7 Stem-segments green fruit green tinged maroon-purplish 8

8 Perianth segments all white R juengeri Barthollot amp N P Taylor 8 External perianth segments magenta R ormindoi N P Taylor amp Zappi

Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank Programa Mata Atlacircntica Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botacircnico do Rio de Janeiro Brazil for the support on field studies Dr Jorge Fontella Pereira for the assis-tance in the Latin diagnosis Fapesp for the grant to the second author

Leonardo Versieux for suggestions on the manuscript and field assistance Paulo Ormindo for the line drawing and Laboratoacuterio de Microscopia Eletrocircnica of the Instituto de Biociecircncias of the Universidade de Satildeo Paulo


Literature Cited

Barthlott W 1987 New Names in Rhipsalidinae (Cactaceae) Bradleya 5 97 ndash 100

Barthlott W and N P Taylor 1995 Notes towards a monograph of Rhipsalideae (Cactaceae) Bradleya 13 43 ndash 79

Calvente A M M F Freitas and R H P Andreata 2005 Listagem dis-tribuiccedilatildeo geograacutefica e conservaccedilatildeo das espeacutecies de Cactaceae no Estado do Rio de Janeiro Rodrigueacutesia 56 141 ndash 162

Calvente A M and R H P Andreata 2007 The Cactaceae of the Natural Municipal Park of Prainha Brazil taxonomy and conservation Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1 529 ndash 548

Calvente A M R H P Andreata and R C Vieira 2008 Stem anatomy of Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) and its relevance for taxonomy Plant Systematics and Evolution 276 271 ndash 277

Fontoura T L S Sylvestre A M S F Vaz and C M Vieira 1997 Epiacutefitas vasculares hemiepiacutefitas e hemiparasitas da Reserva Ecoloacutegica de Macaeacute de Cima Pp 89 ndash 101 in Serra de Macaeacute de Cima diversidade floriacutestica e conservaccedilatildeo em Mata Atlacircntica eds H C Lima and R R Guedes-Bruni Rio de Janeiro Jardim Botacircnico do Rio de Janeiro

Freitas M F 1996 Cactaceae Pp 153ndash161 in Reserva Ecoloacutegica de Macaeacute de Cima Nova Friburgo RJ Aspectos floriacutesticos das espeacutecies vasculares

v 2 eds M P Lima and R R Guedes-Bruni Rio de Janeiro Jardim Botacircnico do Rio de Janeiro

Holmgren P K N H Holmgren and L C Barnett 1990 Index Herbariorum Part I The herbaria of the world Regnum vegetabile ed 8 New York New York Botanical Garden

IUCN 2001 IUCN red list categories and criteria Version 31 Gland Switzerland and Cambridge United Kingdom IUCN Species Survival Commission

Loefgren A 1915 O gecircnero Rhipsalis Arquivos do Jardim Botacircnico do Rio de Janeiro 1 59 ndash 104

Mittermeier R A N Myers P R Gil and G C Mittermeier 2000 Hotspots Earthrsquos biologically richest and most endangered terres-trial ecoregions Mexico City CEMEX Conservation International

Taylor N P 1997 Cactaceae Pp 17 ndash 20 in Cactus and succulent plants status survey and conservation action plan ed S Olfield Gland Switzerland and Cambridge United Kingdom IUCNSSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group

Taylor N P 2003 A new Rhipsalis from Rio Grande do Sul Southern Brazil Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives 16 12

Taylor N P and D C Zappi 1997 Nomenclatural adjustments and nov-elties in Brazilian Cactaceae Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives 3 7 ndash 8

Taylor N P and D C Zappi 2004 Cacti of Eastern Brazil Richmond Surrey United Kingdom The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew


Fig 1 Line drawing of Rhipsalis aurea M F Freitas and J M A Braga A Suberect habit B Branches with flowers and immature fruits C Young stem segment displaying areoles with hairs D Disposition of hairs in young areoles E Flower not conspicuously immersed in the areole F Longitudinal section of flower G Immature cupulate strongly truncate fruit ( Braga 7494 )




Discussion







R aurea R pulchra






















Literature Cited




















Discussion







R aurea R pulchra






















Literature Cited

































Literature Cited

















a new species of rhipsalis (cactaceae) from...

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