This seems to occur more and more. As taxonomy is developing there are more
and more species which occur across half the world but with lots of local
subspecies. If this continues then in twenty years a taxon at the rank of
species will be comparable to what used to be a genus or a section of a
genus.

Not sure if this is a good thing
PvR
+ + +

Cereoid+10 schreef
There are a number of subspecies of Rhipsalis baccifera found in Africa,
Madagascar and India. The species is also widespread in the New World
tropics where a number of subspecies can be found. There has been much
written on how the species might have found its way into the Old World
tropics.

Smith, G.F. & Steyn, E.M.A. (1997) Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana:
the correct name for the indigenous southern African cactus. Bothalia 27
(2): 135, illus.

==================

Do you know which cactus is found in West Africa? Any theories on
how long it's been there?

Iris Cohen wrote
It's the one they call the tapeworm cactus. i think it's the Rhipsalis.
The seeds are sticky. The theory is that the seeds were carried across the
ocean by a bird. Dunno how long ago. Possibly prehistoric.

If I remember correctly, the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, has
floating
seeds which are immune to sal****er. I think they can even germinate in
the ocean. Conocarpus, which lives further inland, frequently has live
pieces
attached to chunks of very hard driftwood, which makes them highly prized
for bonsai. The tree can take salt spray, as far as I know. It is easy to
imagine pieces of buttonwood trees breaking off in a storm & floating across
the ocean.
Of course millions of years ago, Africa & South America were much closer
together. I read that the Florida peninsula is only 5000 years old, so
nearly all its plants came from somewhere else.
Iris

How would you know what a taxonomist would say, Rinkytink? Have you ever met
one?
They certainly aren't as verbose and pedantic as you would want them to be!!
If you want to be taken seriously, you shouldn't partake in such inane idle
speculation and pointless fanciful nonsense. That is unless you want to be
another Archimedes Plutonium!! Is he your taxonomist friend?


P van Rijckevorsel wrote in message
news
Hint: if you want to be taken seriously you must not use phrases such as
"true status". Taxonomy is proud to be a science and thus there is no such
thing as a "true status". At best there is a "status best conforming to
current insights", and when insights improve there will be a new "status
best conforming to current insights".
PvR

+ + +

Cereoid+10 schreef
Idle speculation is the devil's playground.
You must not have a very firm grasp of what constitutes a genus or a
species, Rinkytink.

Not true at all. It has long been known that Rhipsalis occur in the Old
World much longer that just 20 years ago. Their true status has long been
a
subject of debate. The taxa were originally described as separate species
but have recently been demoted to the rank of subspecies of the widespread
and weedy Rhipsalis baccifera as a result of more intense study.


P van Rijckevorsel wrote
This seems to occur more and more. As taxonomy is developing there are
more and more species which occur across half the world but with lots of
local subspecies. If this continues then in twenty years a taxon at the
rank
of
species will be comparable to what used to be a genus or a section of a
genus.

Not sure if this is a good thing
PvR

+ + +

Cereoid+10 schreef
There are a number of subspecies of Rhipsalis baccifera found in
Africa, Madagascar and India. The species is also widespread in the New
World tropics where a number of subspecies can be found. There has been
much
written on how the species might have found its way into the Old World
tropics.

Smith, G.F. & Steyn, E.M.A. (1997) Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. auritiana:
the correct name for the indigenous southern African cactus. Bothalia 27
(2): 135, illus.

==================

Do you know which cactus is found in West Africa? Any theories
on how long it's been there?

Iris Cohen wrote
It's the one they call the tapeworm cactus. i think it's the
Rhipsalis. The seeds are sticky. The theory is that the seeds were carried
across the ocean by a bird. Dunno how long ago. Possibly prehistoric.

If I remember correctly, the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, has
floating seeds which are immune to sal****er. I think they can even
germinate in the ocean. Conocarpus, which lives further inland, frequently
has live pieces attached to chunks of very hard driftwood, which makes
them
highly
prized for bonsai. The tree can take salt spray, as far as I know. It is
easy to imagine pieces of buttonwood trees breaking off in a storm &
floating across the ocean.

Of course millions of years ago, Africa & South America were much
closer together. I read that the Florida peninsula is only 5000 years old,
so nearly all its plants came from somewhere else.
Iris