Solitary, body globular or eventually elongate, to 12 cm wide and 20 cm high. Tubercles prominent, pyramidal. Axils bare. Central spines 2(-6), 10-25 mm, brownish to black. Radial spines 10-16, 6-9 mm long, white, tips brown. Flowers whitish, 2 cm long and wide. Fruit scarlet.

NW Mexico

This species includes forms with widely varying spination, sometimes listed as varieties.

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.