Tribonanthes purpurea belongs to the genus Tribonanthes in the bloodwort family, Haemodoraceae. It was first described by Macfarlane and Hopper in 1987. It is a perennial herb growing from 0.03 to 0.04 m high, in seasonally wet moss and herbfields among granite rocks. Its pink to purple flowers are seen in August.
It is found in the IBRA regions: Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee.