Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii is a phanerogamic species belonging to the Cactaceae family. It is a shrubby cactus , up to 30 cm long with stems up to 1 dm long with persistent rudimentary leaves up to 3 cm long and 0 to 5 spines, up to 5 cm long. It has red flowers 4 cm wide followed by fruits with thorns.