Solitary feather-leafed palm to 15 m tall, 45 cm diameter; stem covered with broadly triangular leaf bases. Crown with dense cluster of fronds. Leaves gently arching, 2.4-3 m long on spiny petioles; leaflets stiff c. 45 cm long, sharply pointed at apex, irregularly spaced and spreading in different planes, covered with greyish wax. Inflorescence c. 90 long, with several yellow branches bearing many small whitish blossoms. Fruit ellipsoid, c. 2.5 cm long, orange when mature.