 Stems scandent, clambering or sprawling, branching, producing few aerial roots, very vigorous, to 5–12 m long or more, often growing 2 m or more in a season, 16–22 mm thick; ribs 4 or rarely 3-5, strong, later terete, acute; areoles small, brownish or black, remote, on the upper edges of knubby projektions, these often forming obtuse, deflexed spurs about 1 cm long, internodes 4–5 cm; spines 5-6, ca 5 mm long, whitish, bristle like, 1-3 lower or central spines usually brown or black; epidermis glossy grass or light green.Flowers produced one by one over a longer period than most other species, born sparingly near tips of mature stems, 30–40 cm long, 20–30 cm in Ø, nocturnal and strongly scented with an aromatic fragrance, tepals rotate, inner ones forming a broad cup; pericarpel oval, knobby, ca 4 cm thick, covered with white spines and brown or black hairs, bracteoles green with white tips.