Name and range
POWO accepts Pfeiffera paranganiensis (Cárdenas) P.V.Heath as a species native to Bolivia. Earlier names include Acanthorhipsalis paranganiensis, Lepismium paranganiense and Rhipsalis paranganiensis. The revision describes it as a facultative epiphyte, a plant capable of growing on trees but also occurring in other positions. [2-WWW] [Korotkova et al. 2010, POWO record 977729-1, 12 October 2026, pp. 164–166]
Habit and identification
The stems initially grow upright, are flattened and carry conspicuous spines. The species key gives yellowish, whitish or cream flowers and depressed-globose angled fruits with an olive-brown colour. This combination distinguishes the species from P. boliviana, whose stems hang down, spines are weak or absent and fruits are pale. [Korotkova et al. 2010, pp. 160–161, 165, species key]
Relationships
In the plastid analysis, P. paranganiensis and P. boliviana belonged to the same lineage together with P. asuntapatensis. Flattened stems and an unarmed fruit surface linked this group morphologically. The conspicuous spines of P. paranganiensis distinguish it from the other two species in this lineage. [Korotkova et al. 2010, pp. 160–161]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Acanthorhipsalis paranganiensis · Bolivihanburya paranganiensis · Lepismium paranganiense · Nothorhipsalis paranganiensis · Rhipsalis paranganiensis [2-WWW]