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 ntroduced |
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Common name: Crab cactus, Lobster cactus, Thanksgiving cactus
Botanical name: Schlumbergera truncata Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)
Crab cactus is a
popular, winter-flowering houseplant native to Brazil, available in a wide
variety of colors including red, purple, oranges, pinks and creams. In its
native environment, these cacti grow on rocks or in trees where hummingbirds
pollinate the flowers. The stems are segmented, flattened to round in
cross-section, with weak or no spines. The stems are graceful and arching and
are an easy-care plant for most homes. Considerable breeding has been
undertaken in Europe and the United States resulting in a wide selection of
flower colors including red, orange, magenta, lavender, and white. Other
characteristics which vary among cultivars are branching density, uprightness,
phylloclade shape, flower shape, and bloom time.
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