Robust climbing palm. Bristly leaf sheaths, leaves to 2m long, spiny on both surfaces, cirrus to 1.5m long, leaflets to 400mm x 40mm. Female spadix to 1.5m+ long, secondary spathes to 30mm long, spikelets to 100mm long with 8-9 pairs of flowers each side. Axillary infrutescence, reddish-brown fruit 18mm x 14mm with a short beak.