Description
Schlumbergera microsphaerica resembles other species of the genus Schlumbergera in that it has leafless green stems, made up of distinct segments, which act as photosynthetic organs. However, most other species have strongly flattened stems, whereas S. microsphaerica has branching stems made up of narrow, more or less cylinder-shaped segments, each 1.5–4.0 cm (0.6–1.6 in) long by 2–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) in diameter.
Special structures characteristic of cacti, called "areoles", occur in a roughly spiral fashion over the stems. The areoles, which may have bristles, are where the flower buds appear. The flowers usually hang down and are more or less regular (radially symmetical or actinomorphic). They are described as "fuchsia red" to white in colour and are about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long. In cultivation in the Northern Hemisphere, plants flower in the spring – March to April.
The fruit is green, with up to five not very prominent ribs. The brown seeds have a diameter of about 1 mm (0.04 in).
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