They are globular-bodied cacti that reach 12 cm in height and 10 cm in diameter. They have more than 30 ribs with small rounded tubercles. The small, woolly areoles have 20 whitish radial spines and 3-5 longer yellowish central spines. The attractive orange-red flowers are 1 cm in diameter and appear on the top of the cactus. They bloom in spring.
Water moderately at the rate of once every 10 days in spring, every 6-7 days in summer and every 15-20 days in fall. In winter do not water.
The soil can be a commercial substrate for cacti. Due to their slow growth they are not usually transplanted.