Matucana ritteri is a species of Matucana found in Peru.

Matucana ritteri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Matucana
Species:
M. ritteri
Binomial name
Matucana ritteri
Buining 1959

Description edit

Matucana ritteri usually grows individually with flattened spherical, glossy dark green shoots and reaches a height of 3 to 5 centimeters with a diameter of 5 to 10 centimeters. There are twelve to 22 blunt ribs present. The straight to slightly curved brownish-black spines turn gray with age. The one to five central spines are 2 to 4 centimeters, the seven to 14 radial spines 1 to 3 centimeters long.

The crooked, crimson flowers are 7 to 9 centimeters long and have a diameter of 4.5 to 5 centimeters. The bright red and green, scaly fruits reach a diameter of 1 to 1.5 centimeters.[2]

Distribution edit

Matucana ritteri is common in the region of La Libertad in Peru, near Otuzco at altitudes of 2500 meters.

Taxonomy edit

The first description was in 1959 by Albert Frederik Hendrik Buining.[3] The specific epithet ritteri honors the German cacti specialist Friedrich Ritter. Nomenclature synonyms are Submatucana ritteri (Buining) Backeb. (1962) and Borzicactus ritteri (Buining) Donald (1971).

References edit

  1. ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  2. ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). p. 421. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  3. ^ "Au Cactus Francophone :". Au Cactus Francophone (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-27.

External links edit