Origin and Habitat: Northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Coleocephalocereus aureusSN|1851]]SN|1851]] has a limited area of occupancy of less than 2,000 km2, but it is found at many locations.
Altitude: 280 and 910 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus is locally dominant on crystalline rocky outcrops surrounded by caatinga vegetation. The species is declining due to habitat loss by mining and habitat degradation by agricultural activities. The species habitat is often subject to quarrying for granite rock as well as small-scale cattle ranching and invasive pasture grasses.

• Coleocephalocereus aureus F.Ritter
• Buiningia aurea (F.Ritter) Buxb.

• Coleocephalocereus aureus F.Ritter
• Buiningia aurea (F.Ritter) Buxb.
• Coleocephalocereus aureus subs. brevicylindricus (Buining) P.J.Braun
• Buiningia brevicylindrica Buining in Krainz
• Coleocephalocereus brevicylindricus (Buining) F.Ritter
• Coleocephalocereus aureus subs. elongatus (Buining) P.J.Braun
• Buiningia brevicylindrica var. elongata Buining
• Coleocephalocereus aureus var. elongatus (Buining) P.J.Braun
• Coleocephalocereus brevicylindricus var. elongatus (Buining) F.Ritter
• Coleocephalocereus elongatus (Buining) P.J.Braun
• Coleocephalocereus aureus var. longispinus (Buining) P.J.Braun
• Buiningia brevicylindrica var. longispina Buining
• Coleocephalocereus brevicylindricus var. longispinus (Buining) F.Ritter

Description: Coleocephalocereus aureusSN|1851]]SN|1851]] (probably best known under its old name Buiningia aureaSN|11036]]SN|11036]]) is a small, columnar cactus with golden spines.
Stem: Can grow about to to 50 in height in time.
Flowers: Small yellowish nocturnal that form in a lateral "cephalium" (a densely woolly or bristly area which denotes that the plant is mature enough to flower)
Blooming season: Summer.

Notes: Lateral cephalia occurs in several species of cacti like Espostoa, Pseudoespostoa, Thrixanthocereus, Vatricania (now all considered to be Espostoa, Buiningia, Facheiroa, Micranthocereus and others. These plants are all columnar and grow as ribbed green juvenile columns with an ordinary sparse spine cover. Once old enough, they begin making a cephalium, but only along one side.

Bibliography: Machado, M. & Braun, P. 2013. Coleocephalocereus aureus. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 March 2014

Cultivation and Propagation: These tropical cacti are not the easiest things to grow and aren’t plants for beginners.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil.
Repotting: The root system is weak and generally resents being repotted and can take a long time to re-establish. Use pot with good drainage.
Light: They prefer very bright light, not as much as the most arid growing cacti, but plenty nonetheless. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production.
Watering: They grow from April to October and cannot endure long stretches of total dryness, and also too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tends to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. Nonetheless, again as a result of their tropical origins, they need a fair amount of water, but allow the soil to dry quite a bit before watering again.
Fertilization: Do not feed in winter.
Hardiness: They rest from October to April but can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures, so is indispensable to keep them above 8-12°C at all times, severe damage or death occurring at temperatures that the great majority of cacti wouldn’t mind in the least and prefer more frequent water in winter than other cacti, say once a month. (but hardy to 4 C ° C for short periods). However warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (minimum 12° to 20° C during rest season).
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the vulnerable plants every day
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally they develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: it is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: Exclusively by Seeds. Sow in February-march in a light, sandy, porous soil. Cover germinating tray with glass to prevent seed from drying out. Germination is most successful at a temperature of 18 to 22° C.