Matucana madisoniorum
| Light | Bright light with some protection from the harshest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season; keep dry over winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep frost-free; roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally offsets or grafting |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Matucana madisoniorum is a small, nearly spineless, grey-green globular cactus from the dry valleys of northern Peru, and one of the most sought-after species in the genus Matucana. Its smooth, low-ribbed body strongly recalls an Astrophytum, but in flower the resemblance ends: it produces slender, long-tubed, brilliant orange-red blooms that are among the showiest in the genus. It is one of the most popular and widely grown Matucanas in cultivation.
Description
Matucana madisoniorum forms a solitary, flattened-globular to shortly cylindrical body, usually grey-green to olive and rather smooth in appearance. The ribs are low and broad, divided into gentle bumps rather than sharp edges, and the areoles are set some distance apart. Spination is famously variable: many plants are almost completely spineless, while others carry a few dark, slightly curved spines, and this variability is part of what makes the species so appealing to collectors.
The flowers are the highlight. Borne near the crown, they open on a long, slender floral tube and are zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) — a hallmark of the genus that reflects adaptation to hummingbird pollination. Their colour is an intense orange to scarlet-red, and a healthy plant may produce several over the warmer months.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to northern Peru, where it is restricted to the dry, warm valley of the lower Río Marañón in the Amazonas region — a dry-forest canyon environment on steep, rocky slopes at the transition between the Andes and the Amazon lowlands, at roughly 400–1000 m. Like many Peruvian cacti it experiences a distinct dry season, and the plants are adapted to sharp drainage and periods with little available water. Its wild range is extremely small and populations there have declined through over-collection and grazing, but the species is now common and well established in cultivation from nursery-propagated stock.
As with all cacti, Matucana madisoniorum is listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Nursery-grown plants are common and legal to own and trade; collecting from the wild is not.
Cultivation
Matucana madisoniorum is generally an easy and rewarding grower, and more forgiving than its delicate looks suggest. Plant it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and give it bright light with a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun, which helps keep the body a healthy colour and encourages flowering.
Water moderately through the warm growing season, letting the mix dry out well between waterings, and keep the plant dry and cool through winter to prevent rot and to promote a good spring flush of buds. Overwatering — especially in cold or dull conditions — is the main cause of loss. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method, and seed-raised plants show the full natural variation in spination. The seeds germinate readily on a warm, humid mineral surface; see Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough. Plants sometimes produce offsets that can be removed and rooted (see Propagation — offsets), and slow or difficult seedlings are occasionally grafted onto a vigorous rootstock to speed them along.
Common problems
- Rot — almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, particularly during cold spells; the body softens and discolours from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale and elongate, losing its neat flattened form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Matucana — the genus overview
- Astrophytum — a superficially similar spineless genus
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets