From Brazil, this is one of the primitive cacti that has shrubby stems and rather simple flowers. It is named for its dark green leaves with a purplish hue, and it can be tree like to 12-15 feet tall. In areas with minimal frost, it can be a landscape plant. This subspecies has greenish bracts and purplish-pink-white flowers with yellow anthers. These plants are rooted cuttings in 5-inch pots.
