Micranthocereus estevesii

Micranthocereus estevesii is a species of Micranthocereus found in Brazil.

Description
Micranthocereus estevesii is a rare cactus species with columnar, bluish-green shoots that can reach up to 6 meters in height and 15 centimeters in diameter. It has 37 to 42 narrow ribs, round areoles with yellowish-brown wool and hair, 6 to 7 slightly curved central spines that are light brown and 0.2 to 3.5 centimeters long, and approximately 12 needle-like, light brown marginal spines that are 5 to 11 millimeters long. The cephalium, 5 to 7 centimeters wide, consists of white to cream-colored wool up to 2.2 centimeters long and red bristles up to 0.8 centimeters long. The broad, funnel-shaped flowers are white and open at night, measuring up to 3.5 centimeters in length and diameter. The light blue fruits are up to 1.3 centimeters long and 0.9 to 1.4 centimeters in diameter, drying out and falling apart when ripe.

Distribution
Native to the Brazilian states of Goiás and Tocantins.

Taxonomy
This species was first described as Austrocephalocereus estevesii in 1974 by Albert Frederik Hendrik Buining and Arnold J. Brederoo. The specific epithet honors Brazilian cactus specialist Eddie Esteves Pereira, who discovered the species. Friedrich Ritter reclassified it into the genus Micranthocereus in 1979.