''Matucana aureiflora'' is a species of ''
Matucana'' found in
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
.
Description
''Matucana aureiflora'' usually grows solitary with flat spherical, shiny dark green shoots up to in diameter. There are 11-27 blunt ribs made up of flat protuberances. The spines are firm, curved, yellow to tan yellow, darker at their base. The
areole
In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...
s have up to four central spines, which can also be missing, are long and 8 to 14 comb-shaped radial spines reach a length of .
The broad, funnel-shaped, radial flowers are golden yellow, long and have a diameter of up to . The fruits are egg-shaped, purplish and long with a diameter.
Distribution
''Matucana aureiflora'' is found in the
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
vian region of
Cajamarca
Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Per ...
at altitudes of 2800 to 2900 meters. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the species is classified as "Critically Endangered (CR)".
Taxonomy
The first description was in 1965 by
Friedrich Ritter. Further
nomenclature synonyms are ''Submatucana aureiflorus'' (F.Ritter) Backeb. (1966) and ''Borzicactus aureiflorus'' (F.Ritter) Donald (1971).
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q1910742
Flora of Peru
Cacti of South America
Endemic flora of Peru
aureiflora