Body becoming large and tree-like with stems to 15 cm wide and 20-30 ribs. Areoles generally with long hairs and 1-2 yellow, brown or black spines up to 5 cm long with numerous yellow radial spines. Perianth segments whitish. Fruit red.

Peru, S Ecuador

 

The 2 other species generally grown, E. blossfeldiorum (Werder.) Buxbaum from N Peru and E. melanostele (Vaupel) Borg can be easily distinguished from one another by their bristle colour. [E. nana F. Ritter]

E. ritteri Buining from Peru (Amazonas) is available and possibly a variant of E. lanata.

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.