| General Description | A small perennial cacti, particularly distinct and fine-flowered that tends to hybridize freely in cultivation. |
| Shape | Shortly columnar. |
| Landscape | Specimen, patio and container plants. |
| Propagation | Propagate by seed in early spring. |
| Cultivation | Grow in full sun, watering lightly in growing season but keeping dry when dormant. |
| Pests | Mealybugs. |
| Notable Specimens | Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Scales are usually dense, and rarely absent, with 3 - 5 (or occasionally more) ribs. |
| Flower Description | Flowers are 4 - 6 cm in diameter. |
| Fruit Description | Fruit splits apically. |
| Colour Description | Scales are chalky white. Flowers are usually entirely yellow (some variations have red or orange throats). |
