A high-elevation variant of O. polyacantha that I was surprised to find here (usually it is higher up). Stem segments averaging about 1.5 inches. Often confused with O. fragilis or O. debreczyi due to small size, but distinctly like O. polyacantha in flat stem segments, firmly attached to one-another, and spine arrangement in numous areoles. Flowers vary in color, and are small for O. polyacantha. These plants remain small no matter the growing conditions, they are not simply stunted as sometimes thought.