Columnar Cacti - Buiningia

Buiningia

Buiningia Buxb. is a small group of short cylindic, cephalium bearing cacti from Brazil. A small plants they are globular and very Melocactus like, but the cephalium is only on one side of the stems which continue to elongate as the illustrations below show. They offset to produce small clumps. Cultivation is the same as for the Brazilian Melocacti, the plants needing relatively warm winter conditions and not too long a dry period.

Buiningia aurea (Ritt.) Buxb
The type species first descibed in 1968
With yellowish green flowers
Photo Bob Ressler

Buiningia brevicylindrica Buin.
Starts forming a cephalium when still globular and often not more
than 3" diameter. Flowers green or yellowisg-hreen
Photo Tony Mace
Collection : Cactus Data Plants

Buiningia purpurea
Buingingia purpurea Buin & Bred
Less common with pink, very melocactus-like flowers
Photo Tony Mace
Collection : C & J Cacti

Buiningia brevicylindrica
Photo Tony Mace
Collection : Cactus Data Plants