The one to four (rarely six) blackish, brown or gray central spines are curved, somewhat flexible and 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters long.

[2] It prefers to grown in the shade under other larger plants, growing in irregular clusters or mounds.

[5][6] In Mexico it is found in states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas on sandy alluvial soils of the Chihuahuan Desert vegetation.

In late summer, it blooms with purple or pink flowers and then bears green fruit.

[7] The specific epithet macromeris is derived from the Greek words makros for 'large' and meors for 'part' and possibly refers to the large perianth of the species.

[8] David Aquino & Daniel Sánchez moved the species to Pelecyphora based on phylogenetic studies in 2022.