A dark grey-brown body with short spines ranging from brownish to dark grey-black. It produces large, bright yellow flowers that stand out vividly against the sombre stem colour.

Synonyms:

Eriosyce heinrichiana (Backeb.) Katt.
Horridocactus heinrichianus Backeb.
Neoporteria curvispina var. heinrichiana (Backeb.) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria heinrichiana (Backeb.) Ferryman
Pyrrhocactus heinrichianus (Backeb.) F.Ritter