Hairy mistletoe cactus
Rhipsalis baccifera

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It has many branches and grows attached to other plants and hangs down. It is 1-3 m long. The stems are slender and succulent. They are pale green. It does not have leaves but can have small scale leaves. The flowers are small and white or pale yellow. The fruit are small berries. They can be white, pink or red. They have several small black seeds. The fruit are produced in great numbers. They are edible.

There are about 40 Rhipsalis species. Plants can have 2, 4 or 8 sets of chromosomes.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow in shade. It needs well-drained soil. In Malawi it grows in lowland and mid-altitude rainforest. It suits humid locations. It has been recorded from 850-1,450 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, America, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Caribbean (country/location of origin), Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North America, Paraguay, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Suriname, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a snack.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Kaktus benaku berbulu

Synonyms

Rhipsalis cassutha Gaertn.;