Stout clustering climbing dioecious rattan palm, scandent stems to 50m. Woody leaf sheaths covered with grey-brown indumentum armed with spines to 40mm x 15mm, leaves to 6m with rigid spines to 6mm on edges & occasionally beneath, leaflets to 25 pr side, basal leaflet to 570mm x 60mm, mid laminar leaflets to 800mm x 80mm, apical leaflets to 150mm x 15mm. Pendulous female spadix to 3m with bracts subtending flowers, pistillate flowers 7mm x 5mm with calyx tube to 4mm & 3 triangular lobes to 3mm x 2mm, corolla with short basal tube & 3 petals 5mm x 2.5mm. Staminate flower 6mm x 3mm with 3-lobed calyx & tube to 4mm with triangular lobes to 2.5mm, 3 petals 4mm x mm. Infructescence to 600mm long, spiny spathe. Fruit a nut to 35mm x 22mm with black or dark brown scales.
Weaving, binding in fence & house-building, fruit edible, furniture, walking sticks, furniture, medicinal uses