Spiny climbing palm. Leaf sheaths densely armed with brown or black spines to 15mm. Leaves 1m long armed with claws beneath, clawed cirrus, leaflets to 300mm x 20mm. Spadix to 600mm long, spiny spathe, branches to 100mm with 4-5 spikelets to 50mm long with 5-10 flowers each side. Straw-coloured beaked fruit to 17mm x 11mm.