Fishhook cactus, pincushion cactus

These smaller cacti are more globular when young but eventually may grow to a small columnar cactus 3 to 6 inches tall. The have relatively long, hook spines. When younger they are usually single plants but often form small clusters as they age. These cacti are found from northwestern Pesido County in Texas up through the Franklin Mountains at El Paso and westward across southern New Mexico, Arizona and adjacent areas of Mexico, usually on rocky hillsides. Flowers are pink with somewhat ragged petals and will often form a ring around the crown of the plant.