Stems clustered, to 15 m, to 2 cm in diam., thickening at apex to 6 cm in diam. on older plants. Leaf sheaths green, with whitish tomentum initially, with yellowish spines to 1 cm, solitary or usually borne in short rows; petioles absent or to 2 cm; rachis 1-1.5 m; pinnae 25-30 per side of rachis, broadly lanceolate, with prominent mid-and submarginal veins, margins without spines, irregularly arranged in clusters of 2 or 3 pinnae, spreading in different planes, gray abaxially and adaxially initially; middle pinnae 10-30 cm, 3-6.5 cm wide at mid-point; cirri to 1.5 m. Inflorescences several per stem, branched to 2 orders, with several pendulous primary branches, these 0.5-0.7 m; rachillae subtended by prominent, ± diamond-shaped bracts 2.2-2.5 × ca. 1.3 cm, glabrous abaxially; male flowers with 6 stamens; female flowers not seen. Fruits globose to ellipsoid, beaked, to 2 cm in diam.; fruit scales with apices minutely bristly initially, these wearing off with age.
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