Climbing palm to 4m. Leaf sheaths armed with black spines to 30mm. Leaf to 1.2m long with cirrus 300mm long, about 20 bristly leaflets each side to 400mm x 20mm. Inflorescences similar, to 300mm long with spiny bracts to 120mm x 30mm. Male rachillae to 10mm, female rachillae to 50mm. Mature fruit to 10mm diameter.