Orange matucana

Description

Matucana aurantiaca (common name, orange matucana) is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae. It grows in the Cajamarca and La Libertad regions of Peru. It is considered to have a stable population and a wide range with no threats. M. aurantiaca grows in clusters of ribbed, spiny spheres or cylinders reaching about 15 cm (5.9 in) in height. It bears orange funnel-shaped flowers in summer. The Latin specific epithet aurantiaca means “orange”. In temperate areas this plant requires some protection from rain and frost, so is best grown under glass in an unheated greenhouse which receives plenty of sun. It is kept dry through the winter, but watered and fed during the growing season, from spring to autumn. In cultivation in the United Kingdom it has been given the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Low, globose or shortly cylindrical bodies, either solitary or clustering. The flowers are subapical, usually more or less zygomorphic, diurnal, in various colours, but mainly red, yellow or pink. However, a few species, notably M. oreodoxa, have actinomorphic flowers and were placed in a separate genus - Eomatucana - by F. Ritter. They are reported to flower easily at a young age. All members of the genus cannot tolerate too much moisture and must be watered only during their growing season and when the substrate is dry. They must also be kept warm through the winter or risk losing their roots. Members of Matucana grow quickly and may be grown from seed.