It is a geophytic plant (perennial plant that spends the unfavorable season in the form of underground buds, from which, every year, it reforms). For this reason it is normal, that during the vegetative rest the Pterocactus fischeri halves in volume. The name of the genus comes from the Greek word "pteron", which means "wing", in reference to the seeds of these plants, which appear winged. The spirally arranged stems are of a brown color, covered with numerous white spines. It blooms in summer, and its diurnal flowers vary from copper-yellow to purplish red.