Slender climbing & creeping palm to 10m. Leaf sheath armed with spines to 25mm long with spines to 120mm at mouth of sheath. Spiny leaves to 1m with claws to 8mm, up to 40 segments 300mm x 18mm. Male spadix to 3m with spines to 15mm long , spathes to 300mm, yellowish-white male flowers 23mm x 2.5mm, red-brown calyx tube 1mm long with 3 lobes, corolla 2mm long/ Female spadix bigger than male in panicle 300mm long, female flower 2.5mm x 1.5mm with 3-lobed calyx. Beaked fruit 9mm x 7.5mm with pale yellow scales.
Cane used in handicrafts, shoot edible