Clustering, body cylindrical, to 9 cm wide and 40 cm high, with milky sap. Tubercles prominent. Axils woolly and with 8-15 bristles. Central spines 4-5(-8) mm long, yellowish-brown, needle-like, lower spine longer, 35-55 mm, and hooked. Radial spines 18-24, 3-8 mm long, whitish or yell­owish. Flowers purplish-red or pink, to 2 cm long, 1.2 cm wide. Fruit pink.

SC 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.