Origin and Habitat: United States, Utah.

• Sclerocactus contortus K.D.Heil

• Sclerocactus parviflorus Clover & Jotter
• Echinocactus parviflorus (Clover & Jotter) L.D.Benson
• Ferocactus parviflorus (Clover & Jotter) N.P.Taylor
• Pediocactus parviflorus (Clover & Jotter) Halda
• Sclerocactus contortus K.D.Heil
• Sclerocactus parviflorus var. blessingiae W.H.Earle

• Sclerocactus parviflorus subs. havasupaiensis (Clover) Hochstätter
• Echinocactus parviflorus var. havasupaiensis (Clover) L.D.Benson
• Pediocactus parviflorus subs. havasupaiensis (Clover) Halda
• Sclerocactus havasupaiensis Clover
• Sclerocactus havasupaiensis var. roseus Clover
• Echinocactus parviflorus var. roseus (Clover) L.D.Benson
• Sclerocactus whipplei var. roseus (Clover) L.D.Benson

• Sclerocactus parviflorus subs. intermedius (Peebles) K.D.Heil & J.M.Porter
• Pediocactus parviflorus subs. intermedius (Peebles) Halda
• Sclerocactus intermedius Peebles
• Sclerocactus parviflorus var. intermedius (Peebles) D.Woodruff & L.D.Benson
• Sclerocactus whipplei var. intermedius (Peebles) L.D.Benson
• Sclerocactus whipplei var. reevesii Castetter, P.Pierce & K.H.Schwer.

• Sclerocactus parviflorus subs. macrospermus (Hochstätter) Hochstätter
• Sclerocactus parviflorus f. macrospermus Hochstätter

• Sclerocactus parviflorus subs. terrae-canyonae (K.D.Heil) K.D.Heil & J.M.Porter
• Sclerocactus parviflorus f. terrae-canyonae (K.D.Heil) Hochstätter
• Sclerocactus terrae-canyonae K.D.Heil

• Sclerocactus parviflorus subs. variiflorus (Hochstätter) Hochstätter
• Sclerocactus parviflorus f. variiflorus Hochstätter

Description: Sclerocactus contortusSN|19525]]SN|19489]], is generally included within (as a synonym of) Sclerocactus parviflorusSN|19477]]SN|19477]] ssp. parviflorus, suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two.
Derivation of specific name: "Contortus, -a, -um", twisted, in reference to the usually spirally arranged ribs, (and/or spines?).
Stems: Usually solitary, depressed-hemispheric to shortly cylindrical, 3-9.5 cm tall, 2-8 cm wide.
Ribs: Often arranged in a spiral or curved obliquely mostly clockwise. Tubercles distinct, especially at the top of the stem, 12-15 mm apart.
Root: A single taproot, branching repeatedly within 2.5-5 cm from the base of the stem
Areoles: Woolly especially near the stem apex.
Central spines. 2 hooked, 3.9-8.2 cm long, usually 1-2 mm wide at base, white, pink, grey, or dark red moderately twisted or straight, one straight (rarely contorted) central 2-5.2 cm long, flattened or angular white to grey often twisted commonly 1-1. 5 mm wide, and (usually) 4 lateral centrals the the upper two 2.5-4.2 cm long and the lower two 2.2-3 cm, and 0.5- 1 mm wide, white or whitish to grey or rose, tinged with red or even the black, straight to very contorted.
Radial spines: usually 6-8 (but varying from 5 to 11) 9-28 mm long, white to pink or grey or whitish.
Flowers: Near the apex of stem, funnelshaped, 4-5.5 cm long, 3-4 cm in diameter, dark pink
Outer perianth segments narrowly spatulate, translucent, inner segments pink, spatulate, with a dark pink midline. Stigma lobes 8-10, purple.
Fruits: Dry 1.2-1.3 cm long, c. 1 cm in diameter, deihishing from a transverse incision in the ovary wall beyond the spines. Flower remnants persistent.
Seeds: Pear shaped, 3-3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide and 1 mm thick, black, papillate, with a deep, with a deep, elliptical hilum, c.1 mm in diameter. The seeds of Sclerocactus contortusSN|19489]]SN|19489]] are larger than Sclerocactus parviflorusSN|19477]]SN|19477]] and Sclerocactus whippleiSN|19489]]SN|19525]].

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Heil, K. and S. Welsh. "New Sclerocactus (Cactaceae) from Nevada". Great Basin Naturalist 46: 677-678. 1987.
2) Heil, K. D. and J. M. Porter. "Sclerocactus (Cactaceae): a revision". Haseltonia 2: 20-46. 1994.
3) Fritz Hochstätter “Tribe Cacteae, Family Cactaceae: The genera Pediocactus Navajoa Toumeya” Hochstätter, 2005
4) Fritz Hochstätter “Tribe Cacteae, Family Cactaceae: The genus Sclerocactus” Fritz Hochstätter, 2005

Cultivation and Propagation: Rarely seen in cultivation, it needs perfect drainage to flourish. It is quite difficult to grow on its own roots and to propagate (only 2-3 percent of seeds germinate). Mature individuals easily rot and die.
It is indispensable to provide a greenhouse with good ventilation and full sun exposure. Keep totally dry during winter. It can tolerate temperature below zero (-20° C). Plants grafted on hardy Opuntia humifusaSN|11629]]SN|11629]] stock are quite easy to grow, and no special skill is required.
Propagation: Seeds are extremely difficult to germinate (only 2-3 percent of seeds germinate). Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up for plants in collection.