Micranthocereus purpureus

Scientific Name: Micranthocereus purpureus (Gurke) F.Ritter
Synonym: Austrocephalocereus lehmannianus, Austrocephalocereus purpureus, Cephalocereus lehmannianus, Cephalocereus purpureus, Coleocephalocereus lehmannianus, Micranthocereus haematocarpus, Micranthocereus lehmannianus, Micranthocereus ruficeps
Family: Cactaceae

Origin: Brazil (Bahia)

Growth Habits: Columnar cactus, generally unbranched, up to 10 feet tall (3 m), 4.8 inches in diameter (12 cm); 12 to 25 broad ribs; 4 to 10 brown central spines, up to 2 inches long (5 cm); 15 to 20 white needle-like spines.

Flowers: In early winter to late winter

Propagation: Seeds or cuttings

Flower, as Cephalocereus purpureus,
in Britton and Rose's The Cactaceae

Cluster of spines, as Cephalocereus purpureus,
in Britton and Rose's The Cactaceae

Blooming Habits:
The original M. purpureus has purple flowers, 1.6 to 2 inches long (4-5 cm). The specimens known as M. lehmannianus, from the Serra de Espinhaco, are smaller, 4 feet tall (1.2 m), 1.2 inches in diameter (3 cm), with white flowers 1.2 inches in diameter, coming out of pink buds.