Variable gray-blue-green or purplish cactus, often quite spiny, up to about 4-8 inches wide and usually wider than tall. Large for the genus, with large flowers. 0-4 central spines, 0-5 radial spines. Apical flowers are usually white or pale pink.

From Nuevo Leon and Coahuila in the Chihuahuan Desert. Two subspecies (hintonii is geographically distinct from the type), multiple varieties. Thelocactus (Thelocactus rinconensis var. phymatothelos) has greatly reduced to nearly absent spines.

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