Its branches are in clusters at intervals along the stem, to 1 m long or more, 7–15 cm wide, flat with few aerial roots; the lobes are 25–45 mm long and 10–16 mm wide, somewhat tapered towards the rounded apex; areoles are small; epidermis is green to yellowish green, smooth.

The pericarpel is covered with numerous small scales with gray wool, bristles and thorns.

When it flowered in the greenhouses of Dr. Harold E. Anthony in Jersey in 1950 it was obvious that this was a great novelty.

Two other epiphytic cacti from other genera show similar strongly notched flat stems and which, when not in flower, are not readily distinguishable from this species: these are Epiphyllum anguliger and Weberocereus imitans.

An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte, S. anthonyanus needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer.