Climbing palm to 24m. Leaf sheaths densely armed with blackish spines to 50mm long. Leaves to 1.8m long, prickly both surfaces, leaflets to 300mm x 13mm. Inflorewscence with spines to 35mm x 50mm, female flowers 5mm long. Reddish or yellowish brown beaked fruit to 16mm x 14mm.
Handcrafts, young shoots edible