Clustering, body globular or shortly elongate, 1-4 cm wide, without milky sap. Axils bare. Tubercles obscure. Central spines lacking. Radial spines 17-25, 2 mm long, whitish or yellowish. Flowers rose pink, 4 cm long and wide. Fruit embedded in body.

NW Mexico

var. goldii (Glass & Foster) Glass & R.A. Foster.  Radial spines 35-45, 2-3 mm long, glassy-white. Flowers dark lavender pink, 3.5 cm long and wide.

var. haudeana (A.B. Lau & Wagner) Glass & R.A. Foster.  Body 2-4 cm wide. Radial spines 18-27, to 6 mm long, recurved. Flowers dark lilac pink, 6.5 cm long and wide.

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.