Xerophyte

Habit

Normally solitary globose cactus that may clump with age.

Description

Matucana madisoniorumSN|2238]]SN|2238]] alternately called SubSN'>2244' alt='2238'>Matucana madisoniorum#SN#2238'>Sub[[Matucana madisoniorumSN' style='border

Note

Paul Hutchinson of the University of California Botanical Gardens discovered Matucana madisoniorumSN|2238]]SN|2238]] about 1963 or so in a valley in Peru. It was firstly described as a species of Borzicactus, then of Submatucana, Gordon Rowley moved this plant to Matucana in 1971, before it was briefly classified in Loxanthocereus and Eomatucana.

Flowers

Forming at the apex from new areoles, zygomorphic tending to lean on one side, bright orange-red with an almost fluorescent sheen making them quite attractive, 3,5 cm in diameter, and slightly longer 5-7 (10) cm long. The buds start as little white/grey furry balls.

Blooming Season

Flowers more than once in several flushes throughout the summer and can flower just about all year round give the right conditions.

Spines

Sometimes individual plants may be almost entirely spineless, while other specimens are covered with spines or have spines missing on parts of the plant. Seedlings of this species are all densely covered with long, curving spines; however, seedlings from plants growing at lower altitudes will ordinarily lose their spines at maturity, while those from higher altitudes keep theirs, but it is very variable in this respect, and spineless plants can grow spiny offsets, or get just an occasional spine.

Stem

Flat globular to elongate with age up to 15 cm tall and 10 cm in diameter. One of most endearing feature of this plant is its unusual rough textured blue or grey-green epidermis.

Fruits

Dry and very fragile. The sides eventually split open forming a cage and allowing the seeds to dribble down the side of the plant.