= Echinocereus arizonicus subs. matudae (Bravo) Rutow
Echinocereenfreund 7(2): 54 (1994)
Accepted Scientific Name: Echinocereus coccineus Engelm. in Wisliz.
Mem. Tour N. Mexico [Wislizenus] 93, adnot. 1848 [Apr 1848] Wisliz., Wisliz., Wisliz.
Echinocereus matudae (Echinocereus arizonicus subs. matudae) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Mexico, Chihuahua. (Type locality:Mexico: Chihuahua: Near Casas Grandes, 2000 m.)
Altitude range: 2200 - 2500 m above sea level.
Habitat and ecology: The plant grows in a mountainous area, on clayey soil among volcanic rocks and forming part of a vegetation of pines and oaks with a predominance of Pinus chihuahuensis, Pinus duranguensis, Ericaceae and some species of the genera and Yucca, Nolina and Dasylirium.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Echinocereus coccineus
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Echinocereus coccineus Engelm. in Wisliz.Mem. Tour N. Mexico [Wislizenus] 93, adnot. 1848 [Apr 1848]Synonymy: 46
Accepted name in llifle Database:Echinocereus coccineus subs. paucispinus (Engelm.) W.Blum, Mich.Lange & Rutow in W.Blum et al.Echinocereus Monogr. (preprint) [4] (1998)Synonymy: 5
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Description: Echinocereus matudaeSN|7140]]SN|7171]] (syn: Echinocereus arizonicus subs. matudaeSN|7171]]SN|7172]]) is a large tufted Echinocereus branching from the base, possibly one of the the largest among the species of this genus. It is a local or morphological form of Echinocereus coccineus (Mexican Claret Cup), distinguished from the type by its somewhat larger stem, up to 50 cm tall, and 12 cm in diameter. In addition to its large size, this plant is characterized by a reduced number of ribs with fewer short, thick spines. Echinocereus matudaeSN|7172]]SN|7171]], is generally included within (as a synonym of) Echinocereus coccineusSN|7171]]SN|7140]], suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two, but it still has a value for a collector because they identify plants with particular characters.
Derivation of speciefic name: This member of the Cactaceae family was given this name in honour of its collector Prof. Eizi Matuda. Matuda's echinocereus.
Root: fibrous branched.
Stems: Cylindrical, erect, very thick, green to dark green 10-30(-50) cm tall, 9-12 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 6-8, broad and obtuse, 2-3 cm high, (1.5)3-4(-5) cm wide at base, sinuatae, slightly tuberculate, perpendicular, diverging.
Areoles: Round to oval 7-10 mm long, 5-7 mm wide, 15-25 mm apart.
Radial spines: 7-11, needle-like, stiff, straight, yellow to light brown, becoming grey, 5-30 mm long,
Central spines: 0-4, spreading above the radials or crosswise, brownish yellow to black 20-40 mm long.
Flowers: Purple-red. Buds red, round, naked or slightly spined. Flower short tubular 50-70 long, to 50
cm in diameter, bright to dark red, throat yellowish. Flower tube 20-30 mm long, 10-25 mm in diameter, reddish. Pericarpel 15-20 mm long, 10-15 mm in diameter, green. Spines 5-10 up to 10 mm long yellowish. Wool up to 2 long. Nectar chamber 7-9, 1.5-2.5 in diameter. Filaments 30-50 mm long, white, purple at apex. Anthers pink-yellow. Style greenish-white, up to 50 mm long, and 1-1.5 in diameter. Stigma lobes 7-9, light green 4-7 mm long.
Fruit: Spherical to ovoidal, green, tinged red-maroon when ripe, about 25-35 mm long, and 15-25 mm in diameter. Ripening 3-4 month after anthesis. Pulp white.
Chromosome number: Diploid 2n = 22.
Seeds: 1.2-1.5 mm long, 1.0 to 1.2 thick, black. Testa conspicuously warty.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinocereus coccineus group
- Echinocereus arizonicus subs. matudae (Bravo) Rutow: has larger stem, up to 50 cm tall, and 12 cm in diameter, a reduced number of ribs with fewer short, thick spines. Distribution: Mexico, Chihuahua.
- Echinocereus coccineus Engelm. in Wisliz.: It has stems that are 2,5 to 5 cm thick, with 8 to 11 ribs. The spines are not differentiable between centrals & radials. There are 0 to 4 central spines and 5 to 20 radial spines per areole. The red-orange flower is 7-8 cm across, and the stigma has 7 or 8 lobes.
- Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus (Rose ex Orcutt) D.J.Ferguson
- Echinocereus coccineus var. gurneyi (L.D.Benson) S.Brack & K.D.Heil: Stems darker green in color compared to the other varieties, and 10 cm thick. The flowers are Orangish-red. This variety is often included into the 'coccineus' subspecies. It looks like coccineus, but is very clustering!
- Echinocereus coccineus subs. paucispinus (Engelm.) W.Blum, Mich.Lange & Rutow in W.Blum et al.: It has stems that are about 6 cm thick, with 5 to 8 acute narrowly furrowed ribs that have areoles that are spa ced 0,5 to 1 cm apart. It has 0 or 1 central spine, 1.4 inches long, and 3 to 6 radial spines that are curved and straight. The flower is red with a hint of orange & shaped like a funnel about 5 cm long, having 7 lobes of the stigma.
- Echinocereus coccineus var. rosei (Wooton & Standl.) A.D.Zimmerman: This plant has relatively long, white wool in the areoles of the ovary and fruit. Flowers scarlet (pink and orange flowered plants are also reported)
- Echinocereus roemeri Engelm. ex F.Haage
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Helia Bravo H. “Una especie nueva del genero Echinocereus, Echinocereus matudae sp. nov.” Anales del Instituto de Biología, Instituto de Biología [Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México], XXXI, page 119,1960
2) “Echinocereus arizonicus J. N. Rose ex C. D. Orcutt subsp. matudae (H. Bravo-Hollis) J. Rutow” In: Lange & Rutow. - Der Echinocereenfreund 7 (2): 54 (1994)
Major references and further lectures
3) “Echinocereus arizonicus subsp. matudae” retrieved 22 March 2016 from <http://www.echinocereus.com/Echinocereus/arizonicus/matudae/matudae.html>
Cultivation and Propagation: Echinocereus matudaeSN|7171]]SN|7171]] is fairly easy to grow. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone) needs a very good drainage to avoid rotting, but requires more moisture than true desert cacti to grow and produce flowers.
Hardiness: It its natural environment it is very cold resistant from -10° to -25° C (depending on clones) or less for short periods of time. It can be grown outdoors in Mediterranean warm-temperate climates, But for safe cultivations needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Garden uses: It is a fine plant for a rock garden or container, contrasts well with agaves, yuccas, and low-growing flowering plants.
Edible uses: The fruit can be consumed fresh or preserved.
Propagation: Cutting as it branches freely from the base; Also can be grown from seeds. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.