Stems clustered, rhizomatous, forming large, loose colonies, to 6 m tall, to 3 cm in diam., covered with persistent, fibrous leaf sheaths. Leaf sheaths with narrow, brown fibers producing a square mesh; ligules persistent; blades not split to base, divided into 7-20 segments, these with curved sides and ± pointed apices, to 45 × 2 cm, outermost narrowest. Inflorescences borne among leaves, branched to 3 orders; bracts tubular, sheathing; rachis to 40 cm; rachillae to 17 cm, brown tomentose; male flowers to 7 mm; sepals united into a tubular, 3-lobed calyx; petals united into a tubular corolla with a 3-lobed, valvate apex; stamens 6, borne in 2 series; filaments not keeled adaxially; female flowers similar to but shorter than male. Fruits ovoid, to 0.7 cm in diam. Seeds ovoid, to 4.5 mm.
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