Occurence

The taxa of the genera Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis occur exclusively in Brazil. Their distribution is limited to the Atlantic coastal mountain forest (Mata Altlântica), which today only exists in rudiments. Here the plants grow epiphytically in the Floresta Ombrófila Densa, a moist, evergreen forest at altitudes between 400 and 2400 m. Only Schlumbergera microsphaerica grows mostly lithophytically in an open high mountainous landscape (Campo de Altitude) at altitudes between 2400 and 2700 m. The distribution of Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis in the mountains called Serra do Mar extends over the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais for about 1000km.

The distribution of the genus Schlumbergera
(compiled by Andreas Hofacker)

The map is based on verified occurrences of the genus Schlumbergera. Numerous growing sites have been destroyed in the meantime, so that the original occurrence was certainly much larger. However, even today new growing sites are discovered, so that the map is only a snapshot.

The distribution of the genus Rhipsalidopsis
(compiled by Andreas Hofacker)

The map is based on verified occurrences of the genus Rhipsalidopsis. Numerous growing sites have been destroyed in the meantime, so that the original occurrence was certainly much larger. However, even today new growing sites are discovered, so that the map is only a snapshot.