Solitary or eventually clustering, body globular or elongate, to 6 cm wide and 15 cm high, without milky sap. Tubercles obscure. Axils white woolly and bristly. Central spines 4-6, to 2 cm long, white, yellow or pale brown, one with tip hooked. Radial spines 30-40, 14 mm long, white or pale yellow. Flowers red (or orange-yellow), to 6 cm long and 5 cm wide. Fruit red.

NW 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.