It is a small, variable cactus with a lengthy taxonomic history, and is often subdivided into a number of subspecies or varieties.

It is usually found on steep, rocky habitats, primarily of limestone geology, in desert scrub or coniferous forest.

A species of conservation concern, P. sneedii faces threats from poaching, urban encroachment, and wildfires.

Pelecyphora sneedii is a small cactus growing up to about 27 centimetres (11 in) tall, but sometimes revealing just a few centimeters above ground level, the rest of the stem buried.

There are up to 5 inner central spines per areole, which are typically straight and radiate like spokes, measuring 3–25 mm (0.12–0.98 in) long.

[3] P. sneedii typically blooms in spring from March to June, bearing flowers 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long and 7–25 mm (0.28–0.98 in) wide near the apical part of the stem.

[3] The fruits, which emerge from May to September, are dimorphic, with "red" (blood-red to magenta) and "green" (greenish-yellow to brown or purple) color phases.

The fruits have a cylindric to fusiform or obovoid to narrowly clavate shape, and are up to 21 millimetres (0.83 in) long.

[3] Escobaria sneedii was first described by botanists Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in 1923, in the fourth volume of their monograph The Cactaceae.

Molecular phylogenetic studies starting in the 21st century suggested a number of these genera were not in fact monophyletic, and demanded re-circumscription.

[5] Due to the priority of publication principle (Principle III) dictated by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, Escobaria and C. macromeris are merged into Pelecyphora, as it was published first in 1843 by Ehrenberg, preceding Britton and Rose's Escobaria by 80 years.

[7] The variability of Pelecyphora sneedii poses a difficulty to the conservation of the species, as some of the infraspecific taxa designated as threatened (e.g. subsp.

[3] It is usually found in broken, rocky terrain and steep slopes of Silurian-Ordovician-Cambrian limestone, usually in Chihuahuan desert scrub and sometimes in coniferous woodlands in the Trans-Pecos region.

sneedii that occurred when a road was built connecting Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.

Sneed's cactus must be kept completely dry during its dormant season in the winter months, and atmospheric humidity must be kept at a low.

Regular watering may be done throughout the spring and summer once the growing season has resumed, provided the soil is well-drained.

Fertilization requirements are simple, consisting of a high-potassium fertilizer during the summer growing season for Sneed's feed, and seed propagation is equally straightforward, with seeds sown after the last frost in spring typically germinating within one to two weeks provided they are well-ventilated and kept out of direct sun.