Solitary, body globular, crown depressed or flat, to 10 cm wide, without milky sap. Tubercles obscure. Axils woolly. Central spines (1-)2(-4), 6-10 mm long, whitish, tips brown. Radial spines 18-30, 3-6 mm long, white. Flowers deep pink-carmine, 10 mm long and wide. Fruit red. [M. elegans DC. misapplied]

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.