Upright, polycarpic plant to 10 m tall, with trunk to 40 cm in diameter; pith to 3–4 cm in diameter; stem with densely packed leaf-rosettes of 25–60 leaves, with no internode elongation; cloaked with marcescent foliage or at least covered with retained leaf-bases for 1–3 m below the leaf-rosettes.. Periodic reproduction yields sparsely to densely branched, spreading plants that regularly attain five reproductive cycles.. Leaf lamina oblanceolate or elliptic to cordate, to 96 cm long and 26 cm wide, with lower portion of leaf constricted to form a pseudo-petiole, hair cushion present on upper leaf-base, sometimes extending along the midvein, lower surface glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent, or with a felty indumentum, villose along lower midvein.. Inflorescence narrowly paniculate to 160 cm tall, 60 cm in diameter; capitula pendulous.. Ray florets 9–20, to 16 mm long, or absent; disc florets 90–250.
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