Matucana
Matucana is a genus of small, globular to short-columnar cacti endemic to Peru, prized by collectors for their crisp, symmetrical spination and their striking, slender tubular flowers. The blooms are often distinctly zygomorphic (bilaterally rather than radially symmetrical), curving upward in shades of red, orange, pink, magenta or yellow, and are among the most beautiful in the whole cactus family.
The genus takes its name from the town of Matucana in the Rímac valley of central Peru, near where the first species was found. It is a firm favourite among growers of Andean cacti, combining neat, sculptural bodies with an unusually generous willingness to flower.
Description
Most Matucana are solitary when young, forming a single flattened to spherical body that lengthens into a short column with age; a number of species eventually cluster to form small mounds. The ribs are typically low and numerous, carrying evenly spaced areoles from which the spines radiate in tidy, often comb-like (pectinate) arrangements. Spine colour ranges from pale straw and honey through to chestnut, grey and near-black, and the density varies from softly bristly to fiercely armed depending on the species.
The flowers are the genus's signature feature. They emerge near the crown on a slender, elongated floral tube and are frequently zygomorphic, with the stamens and style curving to one side — a form associated with pollination by hummingbirds. Colours span a warm spectrum of scarlet, orange, pink, purple-red and yellow, sometimes with contrasting throats. Compared with many globular cacti, Matucana tend to flower readily and while still relatively young.
Distribution
The genus is endemic to Peru, where its species grow in the western Andes and inter-Andean valleys, typically on rocky slopes, cliffs and gravelly ground at moderate to high elevation. Many populations occupy a fairly narrow range along a particular valley system, which makes some species quite localised in the wild. The mountain habitat brings bright sunshine, cool nights, and a distinct dry season that these plants are adapted to.
Notable species
- Matucana aurantiaca — clustering, with orange to yellow-orange flowers.
- Matucana haynei — densely spined, variable species with red to magenta blooms; the classic "type" of the genus.
- Matucana madisoniorum — nearly spineless, smooth grey-green body with brilliant scarlet flowers, a great favourite in collections.
- Matucana intertexta — robust globular plant with interlacing spines and orange-red flowers.
- Matucana weberbaueri — bristly, pale-spined species with yellow, sometimes toothed-petalled flowers.
- Matucana polzii — free-flowering and easy to grow.
- Matucana krahnii — attractive amber-spined plants with pink-red blooms.
Cultivation
Matucana are among the more forgiving Andean cacti and make excellent windowsill and greenhouse plants. Grow them in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, in the brightest light you can offer — good sun brings out the best spine colour and encourages flowering. Because they come from cool-nighted mountain habitats, they appreciate fresh air and dislike being cooked in a stagnant, over-hot spot.
During the growing season water thoroughly once the soil has dried, then allow it to dry again before the next drink; see Watering for general technique. In winter keep the plants dry and cool but frost-free — a proper cool, dry rest greatly improves flowering the following year. Repot young plants every couple of years to keep them growing steadily, as described in Repotting, and watch for pests such as red spider mite and mealybug, which can settle among the spines.
The most common cause of loss, as with most cacti, is overwatering combined with a slow-draining mix, which leads to root and basal rot.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most rewarding method: fresh Matucana seed germinates well on a warm, humid mineral surface, and seedlings are reasonably quick and trouble-free. See Propagation - seed for a full walkthrough. Clustering species can also be increased by removing rooted offsets, and choice or slow forms are sometimes grafted onto a vigorous rootstock to speed them along.
Hobby and cultivar notes
Matucana is a popular genus with specialist growers and appears regularly in seed lists and shows. The taxonomy has been revised repeatedly over the years, and plants once separated into the genera Submatucana and Eomatucana are now generally folded into Matucana; older labels bearing those names are still encountered in collections. Because several species are variable, plants are usually offered as wild-type forms and localities rather than as named cultivars, and collectors often prize particular field-collection numbers for their distinctive spination or flower colour.
See also
- Matucana madisoniorum · Matucana haynei · Matucana aurantiaca — popular species
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - seed · Propagation - offsets · Repotting · Pests and diseases