This species is regarded as a synonym of Maihueniopsis minuta by later authors. We do not know both species well enough to make up our own opinion yet. This is why we mention both species in this overview.
Maihueniopsis mandragora was described by Backeberg in 1953 as Tephrocactus mandragora. The locality is given as North-Argentina, unknown. Later Ritter (1980) writes near Puerta Tastil, Province Salta, AR.
Maihueniopsis mandragora SAR 13818 from Puerta Tastil, AR
Another plant from this same locality.
It might well be possible that we put Maihueniopsis mandragora as a synonym to Maihueniopsis minuta in the next revision.