{{Short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Matucana aurantiaca 2.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Ostalaza, C. |author2=Roque, J. |date=2017 |title=''Matucana aurantiaca'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T152606A121542104 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152606A121542104.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> |genus = Matucana |species = aurantiaca |authority = (Vaupel) Buxb. |synonyms = * ''Echinocactus aurantiacus'' <small>Vaupel (basionym)</small> |synonyms_ref = }}
'''''Matucana aurantiaca''''' (common name, '''orange matucana'''<ref name=RHSPF>{{Cite web|url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=5124|title = Matucana aurantiaca|access-date = 22 June 2015|website = Royal Horticultural Society}}</ref>) is a [[species]] of [[flowering plant]] in the cactus [[family (botany)|family]] Cactaceae. It grows in the [[Cajamarca Region|Cajamarca]] and [[La Libertad Region|La Libertad]] regions of Peru.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Matucana&species=aurantiaca|title = Matucana aurantiaca|access-date = 22 June 2015|website = Cacti Guide}}</ref> It is considered to have a stable population and a wide range with no threats.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />
== Description == ''Matucana aurantiaca'' grows in clusters of ribbed or solitary and rarely branches from the base, spiny spheres or cylinders reaching about {{convert|15 - 35|cm|in|abbr=on}} (rarely up to {{cvt|50|cm}}) in height with a diameter of {{cvt|15|cm}}. The spherical to broadly cylindrical, green to dark green shoots reach heights of growth of up to There are 13 to 19 broad ribs made up of hexagonal protuberances. The distinct, straight, yellowish brown spines turn gray with age. The approximately nine central spines are {{cvt|2 to 7|cm}} long. The twelve to 20 radial spines have a length of {{cvt|0.5 to 4|cm}}. It bears orange funnel-shaped flowers in summer.<ref name=RHSPF/> The Latin [[binomial nomenclature|specific epithet]] ''aurantiaca'' means "orange".<ref name=RHSLG>{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84533-731-5 }}</ref> The orange-red to red flowers are {{cvt|7 to 9|cm}} long and reach a diameter of {{cvt|5 to 7|cm}}. Your bracts are edged purple, the flower mouth is slightly crooked to straight. The diameter of the spherical green fruits is up to {{cvt|2|cm}}. ===Subspecies===
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Subspecies !!Description!! Distribution |- |[[File:Matucana aurantiaca 2.jpg|120px]] ||''Matucana aurantiaca'' subsp. ''aurantiaca'' || ||Cajamarca and La Libertad, Peru. |- | ||''Matucana aurantiaca'' subsp. ''currundayensis'' {{Au|(F.Ritter) Mottram}} || || La Libertad, Peru. |- |[[File:Matucana fruticosa 01.jpg|120px]] ||''Matucana aurantiaca'' subsp. ''fruticosa'' {{Au|(F.Ritter) Mottram}} || ||Cajamarca, Peru. |- | ||''Matucana aurantiaca'' subsp. ''hastifera'' {{Au|(F.Ritter) Mottram}} || ||Peru. |- |[[File:Matucana polzii 1e.jpg|120px]]||''Matucana aurantiaca'' subsp. ''polzii'' {{Au|(Diers, Donald & Zecher) Mottram}} || ||Huánuco, Peru. |- |}
==Distribution== ''Matucana aurantiaca'' is distributed in the Peruvian regions of Ancash, La Libertad, Cajamarca and possibly Piura at altitudes of 2000 to 3700 meters. ==Taxonomy== The plant was first described as ''Echinocactus aurantiacus'' was in 1913 by [[Friedrich Karl Johann Vaupel]].<ref name="Engler 1914 o801">{{cite web | last=Engler | first=Adolf | title=Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie | publisher=Schweizerbart [etc.] | volume=Bd.50 (1914) | date=1914 | issn=0006-8152 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/186483 | access-date=2023-08-23}}</ref> Franz Buxbaum placed the species in the genus ''Matucana'' in 1973. Other [[Synonym (taxonomy)|nomenclature synonyms]] are ''Arequipa aurantiaca'' (Vaupel) Werderm. (1939), ''Borzicactus aurantiacus'' (Vaupel) Kimnach & Hutchison (1957) and ''Submatucana aurantiaca'' (Vaupel) Backeb. (1959).
==Cultivation== In [[temperate climate|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]].<ref name =RHSPF/><ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 64 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 4 April 2018}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Matucana aurantiaca|''Matucana aurantiaca''}} *{{Wikispecies-inline|Matucana aurantiaca|''Matucana aurantiaca''}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1910743}}
[[Category:Matucana|aurantiaca]] [[Category:Cacti of South America]] [[Category:Endemic flora of Peru]] [[Category:Least concern biota of South America]]