Oroya peruviana

Matucana peruviana usually grows individually with depressed, spherical to short cylindrical, blue-green shoots that reach heights of 5 to 20 cm (2.0 to 7.9 in) with diameters of 10 to 14 cm (3.9 to 5.5 in). There are 12 to 30 rounded, notched and cusped ribs. The white areoles are greatly elongated. The yellowish to reddish brown to dark brown spines are difficult to distinguish between central and peripheral spines. The 1 to 3 central spines are protruding and up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long. The 15 to 24 radial spines arranged in a comb shape are up to 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long. The flowers often appear densely packed near the shoot tip from young areoles. They are carmine red with a yellowish base and yellowish inside. The flowers are up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long and reach a diameter of 2.2 cm (0.87 in). The short, club-shaped fruits are reddish brown.

Matucana peruviana is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, and maybe Cusco at altitudes of 3000 to 4300 meters.