2006 Gesneriad Society Convention: Eastman Greenhouse

Eastman House had a very fine greenhouse and we got to go through it.  I think that is Paul Susi in the green shirt, but I've been wrong before.

A few members of the Cactaceae (cactus family) have leaves.  They belong to the genus Pereskia, which has about 17 species, mostly tropical.  This pereskia could be P. aculeata or P. grandifolia.  Anyhow, pereskias are not very tolerant of cold and hard to get to bloom, plus they have spines, so I am happy to see them thriving on somebody else's property!

I think the name of this species is actually Cissus quadrangularis.  Cissus is indeed a member of the grape family.  Notice the grape-like leaves at the bottom left.

The angled stem is reminiscent of Rhipsalis in the cactus family and Stapelia in the Apocynaceae/Asclepiadaceae.  This is a good reminder that the succulent habit has been developed by many plants independently in many families.