Browningia is a genus of cacti, comprising 11 accepted and 3 unresolved species. It is named for Webster E Browning (1869-1942), director of the Instituto Inglés, Santiago, Chile.[2]

Browningia
B. hertlingiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Subtribe: Rebutiinae
Genus: Browningia
Britton & Rose
Type species
Browningia candelaris
Synonyms[1]

Description

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Browningia candelaris (Candelabra cactus), Chile

The bushy or tree-like, usually columnar species of the genus Browningia are branched, often have a well-developed trunk and reach heights of growth of up to 10 meters. The cylindrical shoots have a diameter of up to 50 centimeters. Large areoles sit on the numerous, low ribs. Areoles in the growth area are heavily spined, while areoles in the reproductive area usually have few or no spines.

The tubular to bell-shaped flowers are white to purple and open at night. The areoles of the flower cup and the flower tube are (almost) bare. The flower tube is slightly curved.

The usually small fruits are very different, as are the seeds.[3]

Species

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Species of the genus Browningia according to Plants of the World Online as of August 2023:[1]

Image Scientific name Distribution
Browningia altissima (F.Ritter) Buxb. N. Peru
  Browningia amstutziae (Rauh & Backeb.) Hutchison ex Krainz Peru
  Browningia candelaris (Meyen) Britton & Rose northern Chile and southern Peru
  Browningia chlorocarpa (Kunth) W.T.Marshall Peru.
Browningia columnaris F.Ritter Peru.
Browningia hernandezii Fern.Alonso Colombia (Boyacá)
  Browningia hertlingiana (Backeb.) Buxb. Peru.
Browningia macracantha (F.Ritter) Wittner N. Peru.
  Browningia microsperma (Werderm. & Backeb.) W.T.Marshall Peru.
  Browningia pilleifera (F.Ritter) Hutchison N. Peru.
Browningia utcubambensis Hutchison ex Wittner N. Peru.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Browningia Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  2. ^ Anderson, Edward F (2001). The cactus family. Timber Press. p. 133. ISBN 0-88192-498-9.
  3. ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. pp. 94–97. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.