See Calvente thesis 2010
5.2. Rhipsalis elliptica subsp. microflora Calvente, subsp. nov.
TYPE: BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Santa Maria do Salto, jan 2007, Calvente 320 (holotype: SPF; isotypes: K, RB, MO, NY, HUEFS).

Subspecies nova, Rhipsalis elliptica G.Lindb. ex K.Schum. affinis sed floribus minoribus, tepalis brevioribus, staminibus minoribus et quad numerum inferioribus, pericarpelis albis differt. A Rhipsatis oblonga Loefgr. similis, sed alis latioribus et areolis minoribus, glabris differt.

• Epiphyte, up to 2m long, branching apical, rare lateral.
• Stem segments flattened in longitudinal section, 0.3-1 mm diam, medium green with reddish margin to reddish, slightly succulent, fragile, dimorphic, midrib 1-2 mm diam, cylindric to flattened; primary stem segments ca. 30 cm long; wings 2, with cylindric base, up to 0.5 cm wide; secondary stem segments (6-) 8-16 cm long, base atenuate, apex attenuate, truncate or rounded; wings 2(-3), 1.5-3.5 cm wide, margin crenate to slightly lobed, curved to slightly undulate, with 3-6 mm projections.
• Areoles between margin projections, 1-3 cm apart, first of segment 1.5-5 cm distant from segment base; when sterile 0.7-1 mm diam, glabrous or with 1 acicular scale; when fertile 1-1.3 mm diam, glabrous, with 1 flower/fruit.
• Flowers ca. 8 mm diam; pericarpel 3.5 X 2.5 mm, cylindric, whitish, glabrous; with 1-2 sepaloid tepals, 0.6-1.3 mm long and ca.5 petaloid tepals, 1.7-7.2 X 2-3 mm, oblong to elliptic, patent to reflexed, yellowish, apex rounded, straight to slightly cucullate, margin straight.
• Style ca. 3.5 mm long; stigma with 4-5 lobes, 1.5 mm long, ligulate, erect to spreading. Ovules in 4 incomplete septa, funicle short (< 0.5 mm long).
• Stamens ca. 40, 1.7-3.5 mm long, internal shorter, internal erect and external facing inwards, whitish.
• Nectary ca. 0.6 mm long. Fruit 6-7.4 x 5-6 mm, globoid, white, glabrous.

Figure 6: E, l.

Notes. This new subspecies was included by Taylor & Zappi (2004) in the circumscription of R. oblonga due to its white fruits. However, R. elliptica subsp. microflora and R. elliptica subsp. elliptica are distinct of i for their larger stem segments with crenate margin and smaller areoles. R. elliptica subsp. microflora differs from R. elliptica subsp. elliptica by its smaller flowers and petaloid tepals, fewer and shorter stamens, with a whitish pericarpel, and white fruits.

Habitat and distribution: Occurs in southern Bahia, Espirito Santo and northeastern Minas Gerais in the Atlantic Forest (Brazil). Figure 5.