''Matucana formosa'' is a species of '' Matucana'' found in

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

Description

''Matucana formosa'' usually grows with globular, gray-green shoots that branch out from the base and reaches stature heights of 10 to 15 centimeters and the same diameter. There are 20-30 narrow, slightly bumpy ribs.

Areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cacti out of which grow clusters of spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. Gordon Rowley - Wh ...

s have straight to slightly curved, stiff, dark brown spines have a darker tip and turn gray with age. The 1 to 4 central spines are 2 to 5 centimeters and 6 to 11 radial spines growing up to 3 centimeters long. The crimson flowers have a curved flower tube and a crooked mouth. They are 8 to 10 centimeters long and have a diameter of 4 to 7.5 centimeters. The length of the spherical, green and red fruits is 1.5 centimeters. Their diameter is 1 centimeter.

Distribution

''Matucana formosa'' is distributed in the Peruvian departments of La Libertad,

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 Peru ...

and Amazonas in the valley of the Río Marañón at altitudes of 800 to 1100 meters.

Taxonomy

The first description was in 1963 by

Friedrich Ritter Friedrich Ritter (9 May 1898 – 9 April 1989) was a German botanist who collected and described many species of cacti. ''Ritterocereus ''Stenocereus'' ( Gk. ''stenos'', narrow, L. ''cereus'', candle) is a genus of columnar or tree-like cacti ...

. Nomenclature synonyms are ''Submatucana formosa'' (F.Ritter) Backeb. (1963), ''Borzicactus formosus'' (F.Ritter) Donald (1971) and ''Loxanthocereus formosus'' (F.Ritter) Buxb. (1974).

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1910749 Flora of Peru Cacti of South America Endemic flora of Peru

formosa Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territori ...