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Koeberlinia has a natural amphitropical distribution that includes the deserts of central Bolivia, northern Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Despite the long recognition of only one species, K. spinosa, field, herbarium, and SEM studies support the recognition of two species. Koeberlinia spinosa of northern Mexico and adjacent United States is recognized to consist of three varieties: K. spinosa var. spinosa of northeastern Mexico and the adjacent United States, K. spinosa var. tenuispina of the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona, adjacent California, and northwestern Mexico, and K. spinosa var. wivaggii from south central Texas and northern Mexico to Arizona, which is described as new. Koeberlina holacantha, endemic to the deserts of Bolivia, is proposed as new.