Stems clustered, non-climbing, short and subterranean or free standing, to 5 m, to 5 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths greenish brown with brown hairs, with densely arranged, black, needlelike spines to 2 cm; ocreas to 40 cm, spiny, fibrous and soon disintegrating; knees absent; flagella absent; rachis to 1.5 m with 28-49 lanceolate pinnae per side, these strongly clustered and spreading in different planes; middle pinnae 30-37 cm, 1.5-2 cm wide at mid-point, adaxial veins and margins bristly; cirri absent. Inflorescences to 1 m, erect, not flagellate; inflorescence bracts split open and tattering. Fruits reddish brown, ovoid or ellipsoid, to 1.5 × 1 cm.
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