Rhipsalis baccifera (J.S.Muell) Stearn, an Epiphytic Cactus of Bandung City, Indonesia: the Field Examination on the Biological Features and Host Distribution

Abstract

This study is the first report on the distribution of Rhipsalis baccifera (J.S.Muell) Stearn in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. R. baccifera is an epiphyte cactus that generally grows on the vertical substrate of tree barks. The distribution of R. baccifera was examined by tagging the tree hosts using a global positioning system (GPS). Additionally, the organs and growth stages of the cactus, as well as the interactions of the cactus with the host plants, were photographed. The results show that R. baccifera is distributed unevenly in Bandung, as the population density is higher in the northern area of the city than in the south. This uneven distribution suggests that frugivorous birds and human activities in the area play an important role in the distribution of R. baccifera. The cactus has spines during its early stage, which is greatly reduced upon reaching its mature stage. However, within the same region, the cactus appears to selectively grow on specific hosts, mainly on trees with rough barks or grown by moss. In Bandung, the cactus is mostly found growing on mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla King). Not all trees adjacent to the host trees have the cactus growing on them, which further suggests the cactus’ preference for specific host trees.