Erect, 60-100 cm. and perhaps more, the short caudex covered in the very expanded striate leaf-bases, at length becoming more or less evident from the fall-ing of the leaves which are at the top of the broadened base and disclose strong rings 2-3 cm. apart, the culm itself about 1 cm. thick: leaves pinnate, glabrous or only minutely puberulent underneath, the blade 25-30 cm. long; petiole above the sheath very short, only 3-4 cm. long, stout, striate, grooved on upper face; rachis strongly ridged; pinnae alternate, narrowly lanceolate-acuminate, not sig-moid, firm, somewhat glossy at least underneath, 11-15 cm. long, 2.5 cm. or less broad at middle, long point sometimes almost caudate, tapering gradually to base, prominently and strongly many-nerved, the midrib usually not pronounced the whole length: peduncle arising from a central or upper axil, often 40 cm. long, slender, closely sheathed in 3 bracts; pistillate rachillae 2 or 3, erect or ascending from top of peduncle, 10-15 cm. long, alternately flowered; calyx small, lobed nearly or quite to base; petals separate, imbricate, somewhat striate: fruit oblong, obtuse, about 1 cm. long and 6 mm. broad, the soft thin exterior drying into more or less longitudinal lines, 3 micropyles prominent near basal end; cupule small, of flaring lobes.
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