Plants to 4-5 m high, often with thick cylindric trunk. Stem segments to c. 30 cm long, often much less, ± ovate to oblong or obovate, flattened; base narrowed. Areoles villous and with brownish glochids; spines 1-2 per areole, 1-4 cm long. Fls on margins of stem segments, 5-9 cm diam. Sepals and petals 3-4 cm long, yellow, with red tinge or median red stripe on outside of outer petals, ovate. Filaments white or greenish. Stigmas c. 5 mm long. Fr. 5-7.5 × 3-4.5 cm, obovoid, reddish purple, fleshy, spineless; apex with large round depression. Pulp pale green or greenish white.