Rhipsalis baccifera: A Graceful Epiphytic Cactus that Has Jumped to the Old World

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.