Rhipsalis alboareolata Ritter, Kakteen in Sudamerika, p? 1979-80
Treated by B&T in Bradleya 13/1995 as a synonym of R. teres

Primo arbuscula, erecta, deinde 1-2 m pendula de arboribus, multi-ramata; truncus 10-35 cm longus, cylindricus, 5-7 mm crassus, vertex prior 2-9(-18) ramulas 3-10 cm longas angulis acutis formans, vertices posteriores ramulis minoribus et brevioribus consistentes, ramulae postremae teretes, 1 ad complures cm longae, 1,5-2,5 mm crassae, claro virides,in coniunctionibus et circum areolas rubrae; costae applanatae, 6-7, discretae; areolae orbiculares, non immersae, ca 1/3 mm diam., minimis squamulis rubris, lana alba et plerumque 1-2 saetis brevibus praeditae, 15-40 mm inter se remotae; flores in terminis ramarum vel paulum inferiores, ca 9 mm longi, nascentes supra areolas, quasi non immersi; ovarium paucis squamulis rubris praeditum; nectaria alba, disciformia; stamina alba, iuxta nectaria in ovario inserta; stylus et 2 stigmata alba; petala interna 2-3, alba terminis rubellis, concava, 4 mm longa, 2 mm lata, externa 2, minores, viridula; fructus parvus, pallide purpureus; semina ca 1,0 mm longa, 0,4 mm lata, 0,3 mm crassa, testa brunneolonigra, nitida, sublevia, hilum obliquum, longum, album; habitat BERLIN propinque CORVO, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasilia.

  • Plant epiphytic, at first upright, later with many, to 2 m hanging shoots; the stem to 5-7 mm thick and about 10-35 cm long,
  • Stem round; at the end in the same whorl with 2-9, rarely to 18 acute-angled spreading branches, usually originating about 1 cm under it. After 3-10 cm another whorl with usually 4-7 branches, occasionally also 2-3 or individually in rows; in even shorter distances follows with 2-5 branches; the endbranch is to more than 1cm long and 1.5-2.5 mm thich, stem round, erect, the ends not clubshaped; with more light the whorl has many branches and the stems are thick, with little light you find it only trichotomous or dichotomous branching or single rows, and the branches are very thin, the bushes much longer hanging; branch color bright green, only red at the branching positions and about the scales.
  • Ribs usually unable to recognize, after the areoles are 6-7 discreet ribs.
  • Areoles round, about 1/3 mm diam, in slight depressions of the discreet ribs, with tiny spread, above acuminate red scales, which barely covers the areole; the white tomentum with 1-2 fine, almost adjacent whitish bristles, the end branch bristle free; the areoles 15-40 mm apart, the youngest limbs with the shortest distances.
  • Flowers at the end of the branches or a little deeper, about 9 mm long, 8-10 mm opening wide; the flowers on the primary areoles; the following flowers do not open as far and are much smaller from the older areole
  • Ovary sometimes over 2 mm long, with few small red scales.
  • Nectary white, discus shaped on the ovary; near the base a light nectar-furrow.
  • Stamens outside from the nectaries on the fruit erect, about 4 mm long, white,
    anthers white.
  • Style 5.5 mm long, white, with 2 white, 1 mm long extended stigma lobes.
  • Tepals inner only 3 or 2, white, tips reddish, 4 mm long, 2 mm wide, concave, acuminate, wider below; the 2 outer ones small, shorter and greenish.
  • Fruit small, pale purplish.
  • Seeds about 1.0 mm long, 0.4 mm wide, 0.3 mm thick, widest in the middle, somewhat tapering at both ends, dorsal curved, ventral not wavy; Testa brownish-black, shiny, almost smooth; Hilum crooked to the ventral-side, long, white narrowly flat.
  • Type Berlin, near Corvo, Rio Grande do Sul; is located also in the same State near Jansen, near Montenegro and near Guaiba. I discovered it in 1964. No. FR 1286.

    Fig. 16 an example in culture, a descendant from Guaiba.