Matucana paucicostata is a cactus in the genus Matucana of the family Cactaceae.
Description
Matucana paucicostata is a clustering pant, dark gray-green, spherical when young, short cylindrical with age and has a diameter of and a height of . It has seven to eleven broad, straight ribs. The curved, somewhat flexible, reddish-brown spines turn gray with age. The single central spine - which can also be missing - is up to 3 centimeters, while the four to eight radial spines are 0.5 to 3 centimeters long.
The long-necked, purplish pink flowers are up to 6 inches long and have a diameter of 3 inches. The green fruit reach a diameter of 11 mm.
Distribution
This species is native to the Peruvian region of Ancash, in the valleys of the Río Puchca, Mosna River, Río Huari and Río Marañón. It is widespread at an altitude of above sea level.
Taxonomy
The first description was in 1963 by Friedrich Ritter. The epithet paucicostata derives from the Latin paucicostatus, meaning having few ribs. Nomenclature synonyms are Submatucana paucicostata (F.Ritter) Backeb. (1963) and Borzicactus paucicostatus (F.Ritter) Donald (1971).