Micranthocereus purpureus is a species of Micranthocereus found in Brazil.[1]
Micranthocereus purpureus typically grows unbranched with columnar shoots, reaching heights of over 3 meters and diameters up to 12 centimeters. It has 12 to 25 low, wide ribs and large, closely spaced areoles covered in white wool. The plant features 4 to 10 brown central spines up to 5 centimeters long and 15 to 20 needle-like white radial spines up to 10 millimeters long. The cephalium, up to 1 meter long and 12 centimeters wide, is composed of grayish white wool and reddish brown to black bristles up to 2 centimeters long. The flowers range from pink to white and are 4 to 5 centimeters long. The red fruits, spherical to top-shaped, grow up to 2.5 centimeters long.[2]
Micranthocereus purpureus is found in the Brazilian state of Bahia.
It was first described as Cephalocereus purpureus by Max Gürke in 1908. The specific epithet purpureus, meaning 'purple' in Latin, refers to the flower color.[3] Friedrich Ritter reclassified the species into the genus Micranthocereus in 1968.[4]