Lymanbensonia incachacana

Stems and areoles

The stem segments are broadly oblong and flattened. The areoles lie in depressions, and the flower base developing beside them is partly embedded in the stem. Abundant hairs and bristles fill these sites. In the 2010 key, this position of the areoles distinguishes L. incachacana from the other species considered. [Korotkova et al. 2010, p. 166]

The flowers have intense shades of pink and red. Their elongated, narrow shape and spreading tepal tips match the characteristics of the genus. The combination of stem and flower features in the study by Korotkova and colleagues distinguished this lineage from similarly growing species of Pfeiffera. [Korotkova et al. 2010, p. 162–166]

Distribution and nomenclature

POWO gives Bolivia as the native range and lists an epiphytic growth habit. Cárdenas published the original name, Rhipsalis incachacana, in 1952. The type comes from Incachaca in the department of Cochabamba. Later classifications introduced combinations in Lepismium and Pfeiffera. [2-WWW] [Korotkova et al. 2010, p. 167]

Inclusion in phylogenetic studies

Lymanbensonia incachacana (in older works, Rhipsalis incachacana or Pfeiffera incachacana) was among the species sequenced in the 2010 study. The analysis grouped it with L. micrantha and L. brevispina in a distinct lineage. Across the family, this lineage was sister to Calymmanthium. [Korotkova et al. 2010, p. 159–163]