| General Description | Forms low mats or clumps, dark green in colour. Only one joint above ground, very robust spines downward facing. |
| Cultivation | Fine soils. |
| Habitat | Desert valleys at an altitude of 300-600 m. |
| Leaf Description | Spines are tan to red or brown in colour, 23-26 per areole, straight and turned downwards, 5 cm in length. |
| Flower Description | Yellow flowers, 2.5-5 cm in diameter, 6 mm long green filaments and yellow anthers 1.5 mm in length. |
| Fruit Description | Yellow deciduous, fleshy fruit, smooth and densely spined, 8 x 2 cm. |