Lepismium

Morphological Summary

Lepismium is a genus of neotropical epiphytic cacti closely related to Rhipsalis, from which it is mainly distinguished by having flowers in lateral areoles along the stem (not only terminal ones) and by frequently producing more than one flower per areole. They inhabit humid and subtropical forests of South America, especially the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the Andean forests of Bolivia and Argentina, and Cerrado zones. Their stems are variable: flat and leaf-like (L. houlletianum), cross-shaped angled (L. cruciforme), or cylindrical (L. lumbricoides), always jointed and functionally spineless. Flowers are small, tubular, and often fragrant, followed by ornamental berries in white, pink, violet, or black tones. Some authors include Lepismium within a broad Rhipsalis.