The Rhipsalis Plant

I just saw a picture of this interesting plant on Martha Stewart’s blog. I was drawn to her site because she tweeted about pictures of her new kittens (who could decline an opportunity to look at pictures of kittens?) But what I found was pictures of this very odd-looking plant, and even more interesting, her description of how this plant got its name. I love a good name story!

She describes how the Rhipsalis is in a group of plants that has more than 60 species, the epiphytic spinless cacti (Oh yes, the epiphytic spinless cacti; that’s exactly what I was thinking). Just in case you don’t know, I’ll tell you how Martha says that epiphytic plants “derive moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.” Interesting. That sounds to me like my kind of plant (the kind I might have a harder time killing).

Martha (I think I can refer to her as Martha because we’re tweeting buddies…well, actually, it’s kind of a one-way relationship. I get her tweets, but somehow I don’t think I’m on her tweet list), tells how the plant’s name, rhipsalis, is Greek for “wicker” because of the plant’s flexible branches.

She describes how the plants can have “long, trailing stems…and grow nicely as hanging baskets and really grab peoples’ attention.” And this is where the pictures of the kittens come into play. I guess the kittens enjoy playing with the plant’s long tendrils. Thanks, Martha, for the pictures and description of this curious house plant. Anyone else wondering if they sell these at Home Depot?