Schlumbergera

6 species: see species list

Schlumbergera is a genus of six known tree dwelling cacti from Brazil. These are the tropical rainforest epiphytes, growing on tree branches where, despite the high rainfall, water drains off quickly so that "dry" conditions prevail much of the time. Not surprisingly these cacti are quite different in appearance to their desert dwelling cousins. They are named after F Schlumberger who was the owner of a famous plant collection.

This genus contains the popular Schlumbergera gaertneri, the Easter or Whitsun Cactus which produces vivid scarlet flowers and Schlumbergera truncata, the Christmas Cactus which may flower in white, pink, red or purple. The stems of Schlumbergera ressemble leaf like pads joined one to the other and the flowers appear from areoles at the tips.

Reference

• Cacti , Succulents and Tropical Plants edited by Nicky Hayden. Marshall Cavendish Ltd, (1980).
  
• The House Plant Expert Hessayon Dr D G. pbi publications, (1980).

Species List

6 species including:

• Schlumbergera gaertneri
  
• Schlumbergera truncata
  
• Schlumbergera russelliana