Its only species is Leocereus bahiensis, first described by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in 1926.

They tend to grow like vines, they do not have wool or hairs but the do have needle like spines (about 4 cm long, yellowish brown in color) and felt.

[2] It is found growing in the campos rupestres (rocky fields) montane savanna ecoregion of the Atlantic Forest biome.

[citation needed] Leocereus bahiensis is being affected by habitat loss, though it has a wide range.

The eastern range of the plant is generally regarded as ending up in an area that is not ideal for agricultural growth.