Hatiora is a genus of epiphytic cacti that are native to Brazil and a part of the Rhipsalideae family. The stems of these plants join together and are usually around 1.25 inches (3 cm) high. These stems can be flat, leaf-like, or round. The plants tend to grow up to 6 feet (2 m) in height and width, with their flowers being large and in shades of red, yellow, and orange. As of 2010, the genus has six species, of which some are widely cultivated and used as ornamental plants.
The species in the subgenera are identified and divided on the basis of their morphology. Species in the subgenus Hatiora are known to have cylindric stems and grow upright with small yellow or orange flowers. These plants have wood at their stem base as they become old. All of the species placed in the Rhipsalidopsis subgenus have leaf-like stems, which are somewhat succulent. The flowers of these plants are large and red or pink, with the exception of Hatiora epiphylloides, which grows yellow flowers.
All species in this genus are epiphytes, which means they tend to grow on trees in wet or humid regions, such as the tropical rainforests in Brazil. Hatiora species grow flowers at the very end of their stem segments. The fruits produced by these plants are berries, which are fleshy and round.
The most popular among all the Hatiora species are the H. gaertneri and the H. rosea, which are also called spring cactus or Easter cactus, as they bloom in spring. These two species are so common that they can be easily found in grocery stores and nurseries. Another popular species is H. salicornioides, also known as drunkard’s dream, which is commonly sold as a hanging basket plant. The remaining species are very uncommon.
For ideal growth, these plants require indirect sunlight or partial shade. The soil needs to be well drained and usually fertilized on a weekly basis. After the flower buds have formed, water and fertilizer should be given twice a week at most.
The former name of this genus was Hariota, which was named in 1834 by A. P. de Candolle. In 1923, the cactus taxonomists N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose named the genus Hatiora in honor of Thomas Hariot, an early botanist. As of 2010, the genus is divided into two subgenera: the subgenus Hatiora and the subgenus Rhipsalisdopsis.