Matucana multicolor
Descr. Cact. Nov. 19. 1956
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Matucana multicolor
Author
Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
Chinese genus
白仙玉属
Chinese name
-
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Central Spines
2 to 4 longer and more robust up to 7 cm long, variable from, amber yellow, to honey or nearly white, tip black-brown, black-violet, or black purple.
Note
multicolor = "multicoloured", for the variable colour of the spines of the species.
Flowers
Apical 5 (to 7) cm long, red carmine.
Spines
Very variable, multicoloured.
Ribs
About 14.
Stem
Fairly large, globular to cylindrical, up to 15(or 20) cm in diameter and 30 (to 40) cm in height. In habitat M. multicolor may forms solitary stems, but more often tends to form clumps. Whether this is a natural form or caused through injury of the growing tip by animals is it not clear. In the valleys Matucanas often grow much longer, hanging from the rocks, like a curved pipe.
Radial Spines
Numerous, interlaced, pectinated, up to 2 cm long, very variable, from stout to fine bristles and range from whitish-grey to pure white.
Fruits
Up to 1.5 cm length.