The slightly inward-curving, cylindrical to conical warts lack milky juice and have bare axillae.

The plant has 1-2 strong central spines, brown or yellow with dark tips, up to 1.5 centimeters long, and 8-15 slender, needle-like radial spines, yellow to white with dark tips, 1.2 centimeters long.

The pinkish-white flowers feature a striking purplish-pink central stripe, are 1.2 centimeters long, and equally wide.

[3] Cochemiea mainiae is native to the Sonoran desert plains of Arizona in the US and the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa growing in sand dunes, rocky slopes and hillsides and southwestern oak woodlands.

[4] Initially described as Mammillaria mainiae in 1900 by Mary Katharine Brandegee, the species name honors its discoverer, Ms. F. M. Main.