Shrub or small tree, frequently unbranched, with prickly stems, occasionally attaining a height of 12 m. Leaves to 1 m or more long, forming large crowns at the ends of the branches, bipinnate, with a pair of simple or occasionally pinnate leaflets at each division of the rachis, usually with some prickles, especially on the petiole, or unarmed, the rachis constricted at the joints; leaflets sessile or with a short petiolule, ovate, up to 14 by 7 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base truncate or rounded, oblique in lateral leaflets, margin sharply serrate, upper surface with the remains of a strigose tomen-tum, often ± rugose, lower surface often with a ± velvety tomentum, or with more harsh hairs ± confined to the veins; petiole to 30 cm, its base sheathing and ligulate. Inflorescence a large terminal panicle, peduncle and branches tomentose, prickles, if any, confined to the peduncle and main rachis, small usually persistent linear or ovate bracts c. 1.5 cm long subtending the branches and also spaced along the peduncle; bracts of tertiary branches similar but smaller; secondary branches at intervals along the main rachis, c. 35 cm long, bearing numerous tertiary branches along their length; tertiary branches usually c. 6 cm long, ending in umbellules, and often bearing a number of lateral umbellules; umbellules with c. 20-30 radiating pedicels; pedicels usually 12-15 mm, occasionally shorter, pubescent. Flowers hermaphrodite; calyx lobes 5, triangular or rounded; petals 5, c. 2 mm long; stamens 5; ovary 5-celled, glabrous; styles subulate, connate below, free and spreading above. Fruit spheroidal, up to c. 4 by 4 mm, strongly 5-ribbed when dry, surmounted by the reflexed styles.
Primary and secondary forest, bamboo forest and low-lying moist ground, from near sealevel to 2600 m.
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