Kimnachia ramulosa

Name and phylogenetic position

The accepted name is Kimnachia ramulosa (Salm-Dyck) S.Arias & N.Korotkova. In the literature, the species occurs as Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa, Disocactus ramulosus and Rhipsalis ramulosa. Korotkova and colleagues found its samples outside the clade containing the type of Pseudorhipsalis. Its precise relationships to Epiphyllum and Disocactus remained unresolved. [2-WWW] [Korotkova et al. 2017, pp.12–13, discussion]

Biology and range

POWO records a succulent epiphytic habit and occurrence in the wet tropical biome. The native range includes parts of Mexico, Central America, tropical South America and Jamaica. This species range is broader than those of many other members formerly placed in Pseudorhipsalis. [2-WWW]

In the discussion of the 2017 revision, the authors identify a less developed floral tube and earlier reports of fruit formation without pollination. They also discuss sticky, berry-like fruits and bird dispersal as possible factors facilitating colonisation across a broad area. This is an evolutionary interpretation based on the combination of traits and range. [Korotkova et al. 2017, pp.12–13, discussion]

Materials from the author's archive

The species also appears in Konrad Szychowski's private material archive. [Schumann 1890, file p. 57]