Plants often forming clumps, initially globose, ultimately becoming short-cylindric, to 2 m diam. Stems 25–60 cm long, 12–15 cm diam., green to grey-green, dull. Ribs 8–18, rounded, occasionally with tubercles. Areoles c. 10 mm apart, white, slightly depressed. Central spines 1–5, occasionally absent, stout, ± acicular, to 25 mm long, erect, ivory-coloured with dark apices. Radial spines 3–15, to 25 mm long. Flowers 20–30 cm long, 5–10 cm diam., fragrant. Pericarpel and hypanthium green, tinged red. Outer-most tepals ensiform or gladiate, grading becoming broader toward inner series; inner tepals pink or white, ± oblanceolate, the apex apiculate to acuminate. Staminal filaments white, anthers pale creamish yellow. Style off-white, stigma lobes white or pale creamish white. Fruit not seen.
In Australia, predominantly sparingly established in semi-arid and arid inland areas of South Australia and Queensland. Typically found persisting in abandoned gardens, around old homesteads, ruins, railway-lines, and around mining areas. At Barcaldine town common in western Queensland it has been collected along a creek, in open savannah, on sandy loam.
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