Browningia
B. hertlingiana
Scientific 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]
Azureocereus Akers & H.Johnson Gymnanthocereus Backeb. Gymnocereus Rauh & Backeb.

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]

Description

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

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