christmas cactus (schlumbergera)

the members of the genus schlumbergera are commonly known as christmas cactus or thanksgiving cactus. those names are based on their blooming time around christmas.

they are native to brasil and some of them grow epiphytic (sitting on trees), lithophytic (on rocks) or terrestrial.

the name of the genus is based on the french cacti collector frédéric schlumberger. it contains the following six members:

• schlumbergera kautskyi
• schlumbergera microsphaerica
• schlumbergera opuntioides
• schlumbergera orssichiana
• schlumbergera russelliana
• schlumbergera trunctata

schlumbergera opuntioides