The monstrous shape of a cactaceae has anomalies in shape or lack of thorns typical of its monstrosity; such anomalies will never be identical in plants making each of them unique and for this reason much appreciated by collectors. In its normal form it is a cactus with a slightly depressed globose stem at the apex. It has green tubercles, of pyramidal shape and very pronounced, from which come out needle-like spines slightly curved by the brownish hue, extremely thin and rather long. The flowering period is spring and at the apex of the stem bloom bell-shaped pink-fuchsia flowers.