毛柱屬樹形多肉植物，原產墨西哥至宏都拉斯。樹高2~6m，有主幹與分枝。莖直徑5~10cm，外皮深綠或藍綠色有白粉，5~7稜。刺座有2~6cm長的羊毛狀白毛；側刺7~12支，黃色或褐色。花管狀至鐘形，白色至粉紅色，開花期夏季，園藝栽培時較少開花。

A tree-shaped succulent plant of the genus Pilosocereus, native to Mexico and Honduras. The tree reaches 2 - 6 m high, with a trunk and bifurcated branches. Stem diameter 5 - 10 cm, with dark green or blue-green outer skin coated with white powder, 5 - 7 ridges. Each areole has 2 to 6 cm long wool-like white hairs, 7 to 12 radials, yellow or brown. Flower is tubular to bell-shaped, white to pink, bloom in summer, but cultivars rarely bloom.

栽培：全日照通風環境下可生長良好，日照充足時可促進開花。為了防止爛根等情形，需採用排水、透氣且微酸性的介質。高溫期生長，觀察介質乾就澆水；低溫期休眠，可以進行節水。因為外皮上的白粉能增加美觀，在進行病蟲害防治時，避免使用油劑類以免污損白粉。

The plant favors full sun exposure and good ventilation. Sufficient sun exposure can promote flowering. Plant in draining, breathable and slightly acid soil to avoid root rotting. A summer grower, water whenever the soil appears dried but reduce watering in dormant winters. A layer of white powder on the skin can add ornamental value, avoid using oily products when carrying out pest control to prevent fouling of white powder

莖上的棉毛狀構造是本種的特徵。棉毛越豐厚的部位，通常就是開花處。依據研究，這些棉毛與蝙蝠回聲定位有關。為花朵授粉的蝙蝠，在發出音波探索時，棉毛可以加強反射，協助蝙蝠定位探知花朵的位置。

The cotton wool-like structure on the stem is a unique feature. The part with a thicker coat of cotton wool is usually where the flowers bloom. According to studies, the cotton wool is relevant to echolocation of bats, which can enhance the sonic reflections when bats navigate and locate flowers.