High-climber, needle-like brown spines to 5mm long on stems. Leaves to 3m long with 60-125 leaflets per side, leaflets to 500mm x 30mm with spiny hairs, leaf sheaths covered with spines 60mm long. Male inflorescence to 3m long with spines to 15mm, scented flowers, tepals to 2.5m long. Female inflorescence to 3m long with flowers to 2mm diameter, tepals to 2mm long. Infructescence 4m long with fruit 11mm diameter.