The genus is of relatively recent creation, the species originally being described as part of Escobaria, although recognized as a separate section by Nigel Taylor in 1983, and raised to a genus by Charles Glass in 1998.
The dominant vegetation-type is commonly referred to creosote bush scrub, with palo verde, desert Ironwood, smoketree, and numerous species of cacti including cholla, saguaro, foxtail, and prickly pear.