Dypsis utilis (Jum.) Beentje & J.Dransf.

A robust palm. It can be solitary or in a clump. It grows 6-17 m high. The trunk is 25 cm across. The trunk branches 2 or 3 times at 9-11 m above the ground. The branches are closely parallel. They are 25-37 cm across. The trunks are light brown and the leaf base fibres hang from the top of the trunk. The crown forms a half circle. The leaves are 3.1-4 m long with 60-100 cm long stalks. The leaves twist in the middle meaning the leaflets become arranged at a different angle. The leaflets are 50-80 cm long and narrowly sword shaped. They are pinkish orange when new but become deep green.

Occurs in lowland and montane forest, the species grows in swamps or along rivers and may form locally dense stands in these habitat types. Is recorded to occur between 400 and 1,300 m. Stream banks/swamps of east Madagascan rainforest.

The fruit pulp is sweet and edible.

Can be grown by seedlings.