Clustering, body elongate, to 12 cm wide and 30 cm high, without milky sap. Tubercles prominent, pyramidal. Axils densely white woolly. Central spines 4(-6), 1-3 cm long, yellowish-brown at first, later grey. Radial spines lacking. Flowers pink, 15 mm long and wide. Fruit red. Possibly a syno­nym of M. polythele Martius.

C 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.