Solitary or eventually clustering, body elongate, 3-5 cm wide and 10-20 cm high. Tubercles prominent, conical. Axils with a few bristles. Central spines 1-4, 10-15 mm long, dark brown or black, tips hooked or straight. Radial spines 11-18, to 14 mm long, whitish, tips black. Flowers white or cream with brown central stripe, to 3 cm long and wide. Fruit dark red.

NW Mexico

Source: Thompson, A, ; Forbes, S.; Spencer, R. (1997). Cactaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Mammillaria swinglei)