# Matucana aurantiaca > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matucana_aurantiaca > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matucana_aurantiaca.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matucana_aurantiaca > Source revision: 1317574286 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Species of plant Matucana aurantiaca Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae Subfamily: Cactoideae Genus: Matucana Species: M. aurantiaca Binomial name Matucana aurantiaca (Vaupel) Buxb. Synonyms Echinocactus aurantiacus Vaupel (basionym) ***Matucana aurantiaca*** (common name, **orange matucana**[2]) is a [species](/source/Species) of [flowering plant](/source/Flowering_plant) in the cactus [family](/source/Family_(botany)) Cactaceae. It grows in the [Cajamarca](/source/Cajamarca_Region) and [La Libertad](/source/La_Libertad_Region) regions of Peru.[3] It is considered to have a stable population and a wide range with no threats.[1] ## Description *Matucana aurantiaca* grows in clusters of ribbed or solitary and rarely branches from the base, spiny spheres or cylinders reaching about 15–35 cm (5.9–13.8 in) (rarely up to 50 cm (20 in)) in height with a diameter of 15 cm (5.9 in). 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 2 to 7 cm (0.79 to 2.76 in) long. The twelve to 20 radial spines have a length of 0.5 to 4 cm (0.20 to 1.57 in). It bears orange funnel-shaped flowers in summer.[2] The Latin [specific epithet](/source/Binomial_nomenclature) *aurantiaca* means "orange".[4] The orange-red to red flowers are 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long and reach a diameter of 5 to 7 cm (2.0 to 2.8 in). Your bracts are edged purple, the flower mouth is slightly crooked to straight. The diameter of the spherical green fruits is up to 2 cm (0.79 in). ### Subspecies Image Subspecies Description Distribution Matucana aurantiaca subsp. aurantiaca Cajamarca and La Libertad, Peru. Matucana aurantiaca subsp. currundayensis (F.Ritter) Mottram La Libertad, Peru. Matucana aurantiaca subsp. fruticosa (F.Ritter) Mottram Cajamarca, Peru. Matucana aurantiaca subsp. hastifera (F.Ritter) Mottram Peru. Matucana aurantiaca subsp. polzii (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](/source/Friedrich_Karl_Johann_Vaupel).[5] Franz Buxbaum placed the species in the genus *Matucana* in 1973. Other [nomenclature synonyms](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) are *Arequipa aurantiaca* (Vaupel) Werderm. (1939), *Borzicactus aurantiacus* (Vaupel) Kimnach & Hutchison (1957) and *Submatucana aurantiaca* (Vaupel) Backeb. (1959). ## Cultivation In [temperate](/source/Temperate_climate) 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](/source/Royal_Horticultural_Society)'s [Award of Garden Merit](/source/Award_of_Garden_Merit).[2][6] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_12_November_2021_1-1) Ostalaza, C.; Roque, J. (2017). ["*Matucana aurantiaca*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/152606/121542104). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2017** e.T152606A121542104. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152606A121542104.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152606A121542104.en). Retrieved 12 November 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RHSPF_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RHSPF_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RHSPF_2-2) ["Matucana aurantiaca"](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=5124). *Royal Horticultural Society*. Retrieved 22 June 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Matucana aurantiaca"](http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Matucana&species=aurantiaca). *Cacti Guide*. Retrieved 22 June 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-RHSLG_4-0)** Harrison, Lorraine (2012). *RHS Latin for Gardeners*. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84533-731-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84533-731-5). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Engler_1914_o801_5-0)** Engler, Adolf (1914). ["Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/186483). Schweizerbart [etc.] [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-8152](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-8152). Retrieved 2023-08-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["AGM Plants - Ornamental"](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf) (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 64. Retrieved 4 April 2018. ## External links - Media related to [*Matucana aurantiaca*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Matucana_aurantiaca) at Wikimedia Commons - Data related to [*Matucana aurantiaca*](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Matucana_aurantiaca) at Wikispecies Taxon identifiers Matucana aurantiaca Wikidata: Q1910743 Wikispecies: Matucana aurantiaca CoL: 3YFHQ EoL: 5183154 GBIF: 7281682 GRIN: 434967 iNaturalist: 440263 IPNI: 135303-1 ITIS: 908121 IUCN: 152606 NCBI: 432503 Open Tree of Life: 175308 PalDat: Submatucana_aurantiaca Plant List: tro-5101821 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:135303-1 RHS: 106183 Species+: 28568 Tropicos: 5101821 WFO: wfo-0001287845 Echinocactus aurantiacus Wikidata: Q14955630 CoL: 38G89 GBIF: 3947445 GRIN: 434968 IPNI: 87198-2 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:87198-2 Tropicos: 5101227 WFO: wfo-0000660206 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matucana aurantiaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matucana_aurantiaca) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matucana_aurantiaca?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.