Shrubs or small trees, with few branches, usually at acute angles. Stem segments green, 6-17.5 cm; tubercles broad, rounded, oval, 1.5-2.2 cm. Spines 15-25 per areole, brown, aging gray, not baggy sheathed; major 5-7 abaxial spines deflexed, sub-parallel. Flowers: inner tepals yellow-green, sometimes reddish orange tinged. Fruits densely spiny; areoles 16-26.

Flowering spring (May). Mojave Desert, edges of juniper woodlands, rocky slopes; 1100-1200 m; Ariz., Utah.