This is now supposed to be a subspecies of M. longiflora, and its distribution is the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico. The plants typically are solitary but may cluster, have gray-green globose-cylindrical bodies, and bear multicolored spines. The spines are on significant tubercles, and central spines typically are short like the radial spines. The flowers are pink to red in color. These plants are seedlings in 4-inch pots.