Description
Schlumbergera russelliana / Schlumbergera buckleyi
Common Name: Christmas Cactus
Schlumbergera russelliana is a species of succulent epiphytes that is a member of the cactus family (Cactaceae). It is native to coastal mountains in Southeastern Brazil and usually grows in trees or on rocks in the rain forests. It has leafless green stems which act as leaves to photosynthesize.
Schlumbergera x buckleyi is an artificial hybrid of S. russelliana x S. truncata. The hybrid epithet honours William Buckley, who created this hybrid at the Rollisson Nurseries in England in 1840s.
Most of the plants sold in stores today are the sterile hybrids (Schlumbergera buckleyi) of S. russelliana and S. truncata. There are over 200 cultivars of these plants giving a variety of flower colours.
