[2] Matucana krahnii usually grows solitary and only rarely sprouts with flattened spherical to short cylindrical, grey-green shoots and reaches heights of 10 to 14 cm (3.9 to 5.5 in) with a diameter of 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in).

There are 10 to 18 low and broad, conically bumpy ribs present.

The mostly curved, pliable, yellowish-brown spines turn gray with age.

[3] Matucana krahnii is found in the Peruvian Amazon region north of the town of Balsas on steep sandstone slopes at altitudes of 1650 to 1750 meters.

[4] The specific epithet krahnii honors the German cactus collector Wolfgang Krahn (* 1939).