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A large and coarse plant with terete stems; lateral branches with 1 or 2 pairs of basal cataphylls to 0.5 cm above axil, percurrent branches with 1 pair of intercalary, sterile cataphylls > 0.5 cm above node, followed by 2-5 pairs of fertile cataphylls, these subtending 1-3 inflorescences each, latter also present in axils of foliage leaves. Petiole short, heavy; blade leathery, broadly lanceolate, to 17 x 10 cm; 3-7 prominent palmate veins. Monoecious. Spikes 2-3.5 cm long in fruit, with 2-6(-10) crowded pairs of sterile cataphylls at base; fertile internodes 5-9, very short and crowded, each fertile bract with 3-7 flowers in 2-seriate pattern, terminal flower male, lateral ones female. Fruit yellowish or pale orange to white, often reddish-brown where fully exposed to sun, smooth, nearly spherical, about 0.4 x 0.3 cm, perianth segments small, erect.
