posted on 2024-11-27, 16:54authored byJose Andrade
Rhipsalis baccifera (Cactaceae) is a widespread epiphyte that lives high in the canopy of the Barro Colorado Island (BCI) forest, most frequently in deciduous species such as Ceiba pentandra and Handroanthus guayacan. This epiphytic species shows several characteristics to withstand drought in the forest canopy, such as succulence, high relative tissue capacitance, shade tolerance, and crassulacean acid metabolism. Root features allow this species to secure the heavy plant stems and to take advantage of sporadic rains during the dry season. Also, tissue water content recovers rapidly after slight rains.
History
Series
Open Monographs
Volume Number
2
Publication date
2024-11-22
ISBN (print)
978-1-944466-71-8
ISBN (online)
978-1-944466-70-1
Funder(s)
Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
Book Title
The First 100 Years of Research on Barro Colorado: Plant and Ecosystem Science