Xerophyte

Central Spines

None or sometime 1 or 2, 15-40 mm long.

Description

The standard Matucana oreodoxaSN|2241]]SN|2241]] has usually solitary, or slowly branching stems. For its particular shape it vaguely remembers of Lophophora.

Roots

Large tap-root.

Flowers

Slender, infundibuliform, radially symmetrical, bright orange-red, 8-10 cm long and 3-5.5 cm in diameter.

Ribs

7-12, Broad, flattened. Forming round tubercles, with transverse grooves.

Stem

Flattened globose to short columnar, grass green, dull grey-green to dark green, 8-15 cm tall, up to 8 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

4--10, 10-30 mm long, cream coloured, brownish to blackish, becoming grey, flexible, straight or somewhat curved. They are fragile and detach easily, so the older basal parts of the stem are often naked.

Variegated Form

A limited number of variegated specimens appear with a variable frequency among normal seedlings. These have sectors, patches or stripes with distinct shades of yellow. Plants with variegated body are often highly prized.

Fruits

Oval, pale green, about 8 mm in diameter.