Rob Bregman, The Genus Matucana. Biology and systematics of fascinating Peruvian cacti, Ed. Balkema, 1996

A

n analysis of the genus Matucana, a popular group of Peruvian cacti. The section on systematics emphasizes seed morphology, because of its phylogenetic significance. The genus is proposed as consisting of 19 species, all of which are described and depicted, including SEM micrographs of seeds.

Chapters on the taxonomy and systematics (this genus has previously been included in the genera Borzicactus and Oreocereus), morphology, geography (the current distribution of the genus is a long narrow zone in the western Peruvian Andes) and ecology, reproduction and cultivation of Matucana are followed by a key to the species and chapters on the haynei, aurantiaca, intertexta and paucicostata groups, each of which includes descriptions of the species in the group.

There is also a checklist of infraspecific epithets (showing which are the preferred ones), a complete list of field numbers and an index of plant names.

Pubblicazione di grande formato del 1996, a copertina rigida in tela gialla con titoli e fregi dorati al piatto e al dorso, dotata di sovracoperta lucida fotografica, rilegata a filo, corredata da molte fotografie e disegni in B/N e a colori, anche f.t. su carta lucida.

Al momento di questa inserzione, il testo risultava quasi introvabile sul mercato mondiale on-line e l’unica quotazione disponibile ed attiva era di $375 (dollari americani).

Ottimo [l’opera, pervenuta ancora nell’imballo editoriale, non presenta a livello strutturale né danni, né rovinature, segni, scritte o usure; legatura compatta e molto resistente; copertine ottimamente tenute, senza usure e con bordi netti; sovracoperta integra e senza rotture, segni o ammaccature]