It is the smallest of the Copiapoa's and a very attractive clustering variety with lots of small heads when mature. It is easily identified just by its small size, brown soft stems, minute spines, large yellow flower and large tuberous root. It is the only Copiapoa where the side branches form their own roots. Description: Miniature Copiapoa, clustering, partially underground, single stem circa 1cm (rarely 3 cm) across, 1 to 1.5 cm high clear grey to red-brown-grey, sometimes greenish. Top sunken: covered with whitish wool.
Ribs: 15 to 20 with small tubercles in vertical rows.
Spines: whitish to yellowish, occasionally 1 central spine; 4 to 7 insignificant radials
Flower: yellow with reddish petal tips, short, wide funnel-shaped.
Fruit: globular, 3-5 mm across, greenish-brown with shiny black seeds;
Roots: large turnip-like.

Listing for for 5 seeds.