Solitary fan-leafed palm to 30 m tall, c. 30 cm diameter, trunk smooth, pale grey with reddish brown rings of leaf base scars near apex. Crown roundish, with 20-50 leaves. Petiole c. 1-2 m long with spines along the margin; blade c. 1.5-1.8 m across, nearly circular, segments rigid. In older palms, the leaves are significantly smaller and do not form complete circles. Inflorescences in 3-pronged branches, much divided, c. 2.4 m long bearing small yellow blossoms. Fruits globose to ovoid, c. 2.5 cm across, bright orange-red when mature.