The crested shape of this cactus presents in some parts the typical compact fan arrangement, which makes each exemplar absolutely unique, never identical to another and for this reason so much appreciated by collectors. In its normal form it is a cactus with a shrub habit, very branched, which in nature can grow up to really impressive heights, while in cultivation it reaches about 60 cm. It is made up of green-greyish colored stems on which well-marked tubercles are formed. From fluffy elliptical areolas emerge very robust needle-like spines up to 5 cm long, of an orange-brownish color tending to become almost black when ripe.