Origin and Habitat: Peru (Camajarca near the city of Cajamarca). This species occurs in an extremely restricted range of 20 km2, which represents a single location.
Altitude range: 2,800 to 2,900 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: Matucana aureifloraSN|5937]]SN|5937]] occurs in inter-Andean valleysis where it is not common. The population trend is decreasing due to urban sprawl (expansion of the city of Cajamarca) and, to a lesser degree, by agricultural activities. Furthermore, it does not occur in any protected area and is Critically Endangered.

• Matucana aureiflora F.Ritter
• Borzicactus aureiflorus (F.Ritter) Donald
• Submatucana aureiflora (F.Ritter) Backeb.

• Matucana aureiflora F.Ritter
• Borzicactus aureiflorus (F.Ritter) Donald
• Submatucana aureiflora (F.Ritter) Backeb.
• Matucana aureiflora var. elata hort., Kníže
• Submatucana aureiflora var. elata hort., Kníže
• Matucana celendinensis F.Ritter
• Borzicactus intertextus var. celendinensis (F.Ritter) Donald
• Matucana intertexta var. celendinensis (F.Ritter) Bregman, Meerst., Melis & A.B.Pullen

Description: Flattened to globular cactus.
Stem: 10 cm tall, 12 cm or more in diameter.
Roots: Tap root.
Spines: Curved inward, pectinated glassy yellowish to amber coloured with brown bases.
Leaves: The stem apex of the Matucana aureifloraSN|5937]]SN|5937]] is unusual among globular cacti in having a visible scale leaf, subtending each areole when young
Flowers: Yellow to golden , 5 cm long, 3-4cm in diameter in several flushes, in spring and summer. They stay open day and night.

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, 2006
5) Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. "Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru." Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 1993
6) Bregman, R. "The genus Matucana, biology and systematics of fascinating Peruvian cacti." 1996
7) Roque, J. & Ostalaza, C. 2013. Matucana aureiflora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 November 2014.

Cultivation and Propagation: They grow slowly in their natural habitats, but in greenhouses they grow quickly.
Growing substratum: Grow in rich, porous soil and let the soil dry out between waterings.
Potting: It needs good drainage and a deep pot to accommodate its tap root
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.
Hardiness: Not very hard to grow if not protected from freezing temperatures, they need care in cultivation to reach a good size without developing unsightly marks. They need a minimum temperature of 10° C, but may to survive a light frost.
Exposure: Some direct sun is beneficial in order to get a good spine coloration, but not severe sunlight.
Propagation: Seeds