Origin and Habitat: Central and northern-central Mexico, mostly on the Central Plateau.
Type locality: "limestone hills near Pachuca,"Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Habitat: Open rocky ground, or on rocks in dry deciduous forest, 1800-2500 m

• Hechtia podantha Mez

• Hechtia podantha Mez
• Hechtia liebmannii Mez
• Hechtia tehuacana B.L.Rob.

Description: Dioecious specie (Plants are considered perfect, each possessing male and female organs)
Leaves: up to 3 dm long and 2 cm wide at base, leathery, armed with heavy, brown spines at the margins, narrow and pointed, in basal rosettes, glossy-green or grayish green on the upper surfaces red-shaded if exposed to intense light and covered with a dense, even coat of white scales. The upper side is slightly variegated, under side of an ashy silvery.
Flower: The inflorescence is a compound spike. Flowers white.