Stems to 4 (-7) m tall. Leaves 55-125 cm long, flat (not keeled) in section (opposing pinnae inserted at 160-180° on rachis), with 130-180 pinnae, pale to mid-green, highly glossy. Petiole 17-35 cm long, unarmed (rarely with few distal spines). Median pinnae 6-16 cm long, 4.5-7 mm wide, narrowed to 3-5 mm at base (to 50-80% of maximum width), inserted at 50-80° to rachis, 5-10 mm apart, glabrous; margins flat; midrib slightly raised above, raised below. Cataphylls linear, pungent, 4-8 cm long. Pollen cones ovoid, 20 cm long, 8 cm diam., orange-brown. Microsporophyll lamina 25 mm long, 14 mm wide; apical spine 10 mm long. Megasporophylls 14-24 cm long, with 1-4 ovules; lamina lanceolate, 40-90 mm long, 15-25 mm wide, regularly dentate with 10-24 lateral spines 1-5 mm long and 1 mm wide; apical spine 14-63 mm long. Seeds 25-36 mm long, 25-34 mm wide.
Abundant and widespread in deep white to yellow sands over laterites, mainly in Eucalyptus tetrodonta-E. miniata dominated savanna forests, but occurring in most non-swampy sites.
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