Body solitary to 20 cm or so tall. Ribs to 30 in a spiral arrangement. Areoles about 3 cm apart, central spines 3-4 up to 15 cm long and curving upwards, radial spines 10-12, to 6 cm long. Flowers 7-10 cm long, white or sometimes pink.

Bolivia to N Argentina

The other commonly cultivated night flowering species with a narrow flower tube is the relatively small E. mamillosa Gürke from S Bolivia which has tubercled ribs and a rounded body.

Source: Thompson, A, ; Forbes, S.; Spencer, R. (1997). Cactaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.