Origin and Habitat: Nazca to Lucamas and adjacent areas, southern Peru.
Altitude: 3100-4000 above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in exposed rocks associated with dwarf shrubs and grasses. This rocky habitats harbour a rich succulent flora comprising Tephrocactus floccosusSN|4107]]SN|4107]]

• Matucana haynei subs. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) Mottram
• Borzicactus haynei var. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana hystrix Rauh & Backeb.
• Matucana multicolor var. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) F.Ritter

• Matucana haynei subs. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) Mottram
• Borzicactus haynei var. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana hystrix Rauh & Backeb.
• Matucana multicolor var. hystrix (Rauh & Backeb.) F.Ritter
• Matucana haynei subs. hystrix var. atrispina Rauh & Backeb.
• Borzicactus haynei var. atrispina (Rauh & Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana hystrix var. atrispina Rauh & Backeb.

• Matucana haynei (Otto) Britton & Rose
• Arequipa haynii (Otto) Krainz in Krainz
• Borzicactus haynei (Otto) Kimnach
• Cereus haynii (Otto) Croucher
• Echinocactus haynii Otto
• Matucana blancii Backeb.
• Borzicactus haynei var. blancii (Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana breviflora Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Borzicactus haynei var. breviflora (Rauh & Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana multicolor var. breviflora (Rauh & Backeb.) F.Ritter
• Matucana calocephala Skarupke
• Borzicactus calocephalus (Skarupke) Donald
• Matucana cereoides Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Matucana crinifera F.Ritter
• Matucana crinifera f. cristata hort.
• Matucana elongata Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Matucana haynei var. elongata (Rauh & Backeb.) F.Ritter
• Matucana haynei var. erectipetala Rauh & Backeb.
• Arequipa haynii var. erectipetala (Rauh & Backeb.) Krainz in Krainz
• Matucana megalantha F.Ritter
• Borzicactus aurantiacus var. megalanthus (F.Ritter) Donald
• Matucana multicolor Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Matucana supertexta F.Ritter
• Matucana variabilis Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.
• Borzicactus variabilis (Rauh & Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana variabilis var. fuscata Rauh & Backeb.
• Matucana villarica n.n.
• Matucana winteri F.Ritter
• Matucana yanganucensis Rauh & Backeb. in Backeb.

• Matucana haynei subs. herzogiana (Backeb.) Mottram
• Matucana herzogiana Backeb.
• Matucana herzogiana var. perplexa Backeb.
• Borzicactus haynei var. perplexa (Backeb.) Donald
• Matucana haynei var. perplexa hort.

• Matucana haynei subs. myriacantha (Vaupel) Mottram
• Arequipa myriacantha Britton & Rose
• Borzicactus myriacanthus (Vaupel) Donald
• Borzicactus weberbaueri var. myriacanthus (Vaupel) Donald
• Echinocactus myriacanthus Vaupel
• Matucana myriacantha (Vaupel) Buxb.
• Submatucana myriacantha (Vaupel) Backeb.
• Matucana comacephala F.Ritter
• Matucana huarinensis hort.
• Matucana huarinensis var. brevispina hort.
• Matucana huarinensis var. brunispina hort.
• Matucana myriacantha f. purpureoalba (F.Ritter) Lodé
• Matucana purpureoalba F.Ritter
• Matucana myriacantha f. roseoalba (hort., F.Ritter) Lodé
• Matucana roseoalba hort., F.Ritter

Description: Matucana hayneiSN|1080]]SN|1080]] subs. hystrix is one of the southernmost geographical form of the widespread and morphologically variable Matucana haynei. Many of its morphological and geographical variant was early classified as different independent species, but nowadays all this plant are considered part of a multiform species, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. Matucana hayneiSN|5928]]SN|1080]] subs. hystrix along with other similar high-altitude species ( Matucana multicolorSN|15998]]SN|5929]], Matucana herzogianaSN|5929]]SN|15998]], Matucana yanganucensisSN|1080]]SN|5928]], Matucana crucifera and some others) is clearly part of the Matucana hayneiSN|1080]]SN|1080]] group, and distinguishes from the type for the strong brow or black central spines.
Habit: It is a globe-shaped to shortly columnar cactus densely covered by white-greyish, hair-like spines. The purple, tubular flowers project beyond the spines and present a most attractive appearance at flowering time.
Stem: Generally single but occasionally many-stemmed, globular to shortly cylindrical, 8-10 cm in diameter, up to 30 cm high, green, densely covered and almost invisible under the numerous spines.
Ribs: About 23, tuberculate.
Areoles: Set closely together, with an abundance of wool when young, but without any when old.
Spines: Variable, white to pale brown, grey with age.
Central spines: Up to 4 stouter, pungent, up to 5 cm long, more or less subulate and thicker at the base, dark brown to black.
Radial spines: Numerous 1,5 cm long more or less pectinate, weak, bristly, glassy white to yellowish brown.
Flowers: Apical, dark crimson, up to 7 cm long and 2,5-3,5 cm broad, bilaterally symmetrical to nearly regular, limb scarcely oblique, with a long slender tube; scales on ovary and tube few, small, ovate, naked in their axil. The segments acute, purplish crimson. Filaments bright carmine, anthers yellow. Style bright carmine, stigma-lobes greenish.
Fruit: Small, spherical to club shaped light reddish-green about 1 cm in length.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
4) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a summer-growing species of relatively easy cultivation. This plant is adapted to dry soils and is quite susceptible to over-watering if kept in a non ventilated place.
Growth rate: Matucanas grow slowly in their natural habitats, but in greenhouses they grow more quickly.
Soil: Grow it in a rich, open, sandy-gritty cactus compost. It needs good drainage and a deep pot to accommodate its tap root.
Repotting: Repot in the spring when the roots become cramped. Generally, these plants should be re-potted every other year, in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. After repotting, do not water for a week or more.
Exposure: It is suited for sunny-brightly exposure, but can tolerate light shade. However it will do its best only with lots of sun and become stressed with inadequate light which could result in poor growth and unnatural shape. Direct sun is also beneficial in order to get a good spine colouration.
Watering: Water sparingly and keep it completely dry during winter. Mature individuals easily rot and die especially after transplanting so be extremely cautious with watering. Keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C. Water it less than average if in bigger pots.
Fertilization: Feed them once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (high potash fertilizer with a dilute low nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. They thrive in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases.
Special need: It is suited for airy exposures. Provide very good ventilation. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. They must have very dry atmosphere.
Hardiness: It likes warmth (recommended minimum winter temperature 5° C), but plants kept perfectly dry but may to survive a light frost.
Pests & diseases: These cacti may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new leaves and flowers with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales, thrips and aphids: These insects are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Usually propagated from seeds (seldom produces offsets). The seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sandy soil, any time during the spring when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the 1-2 weeks cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shade-cloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on mistings can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow. The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted after which they can be planted separately in small pots.