Weberocereus biolleyi

Synonymy

Rhipsalis biolleyi F. A. C. Weber (1902) Bull. Mus. Hist. nat. Paris 8:467
Cereus biolleyi (F. A. C. Weber) F. A. C. Weber in K. Schumann (1903) Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. 60
Weberocereus biolleyi (F. A. C. Weber) Britton & Rose (1909) Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12:431

Ethymology

Commemorates its discoverer - P. Biolley.

History

W. biolleyi was first collected by P. Biolley in 1899, near Port Limon of Costa Rica. Weber did not know the flowers and as the stems of this species most resemble a Rhipsalis - he placed it under that genus, but it was tranfered only a year later to Cereus - a more proper genus at the time. In 1904 the first plant flowered in Washington and Britton and Rose was able to creat a new genus for this lovely species.

Origin and habitat

Costa Rica: from Llanuras de Tortuguero at least to Playa Bananito (S of Limon) and perhaps Panama. Wet forest, 2-200 (-1100) m.

Systematics

I well distiguished species, quite easily recognized from all other cacti. The unknown W. panamensis might represent a 3 ribbed, white-flowered phase of this species. Occasional specimens have spines and may therefore be confused with W. trichophorus.

Cultivation

An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 10ºC (50ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Even rather small plants are capable to produce flowers.
Flowers during spring and summer.

Notes

In many specimens they have a faintly disagreeable smell, yet in other plants, which to all appearrances are exactly the same, the flowers have a pleasant scent reminiscent of plums.

Description

Stems scandent-pendent, branching laterally, rooting profusely, to 2 m long, 2-7 mm thick, subterete; ribs3- 4, obscure.; margins irregulary dentate-crenate with obtusely obscure podaria just below areoles; areoles cream or gray, with widely ovate leaves, 0,5 mm long and 1,5 mm wide; internodes (2-) 3,5- cm7; spines lacking in most areoles or occasionally a few, flimsy hair-spines, 5 (0-16) in areoles near base, subulate, bulbous, 1-4 mm long, cream, later brownish yellow; hairs; epidermis ± brownish red, podarias on margins purplish red. Flowers funnelform, 4-6 cm long, 2,5-3,5 cm wide, nocturnal, fragrant, from subapical areoles; pericarpel with prominent podarias; receptacle 2,5-4 cm long, greenish yellow to purplish red, bracteoles deltoid to shortly obovate, 0,5-10 mm long, 1-5 mm wide, subtensing white wool and white flexible spines; outer tepals ca 12, nearly erect, 1-3 cm long, 5-8 mm wide, obtuse, mucronate yellowish pink to purplish pink; inner tepals ca 8, nearly erect but tips expanding apically, 2,5 cm long, 8 mm wide, subacute, pinkish white or white; stamens inserted in two zones, declinate, 1,5-2 cm long, white, anthers light yellow; style 3,5-4 cm long, 0,5-1 mm thick, cream, often tinged pink at apex, stigma lobes (5-)8, neraly erect. cream or pinkish. Fruit subglobose, 2,5 cm long, 2,2 cm thick rose or pink, pulp purplish, odorless; seeds ovoid-reniform 1,75-2 mm long, ca 1,5 mm thick, black.