Small tree to 7 m tall, without swollen base, crown containing tuff of pinnate leaves clustered near the apex. Leaves pinnate, to 250 cm long with 25-90 pairs of stiff leaflets. Male and female on separate plants; male cone narrowly ellipsoid to cylindric, to 40 cm long, microsporophylls c. 40 mm long; female megasporophylls to 35 cm long in loose arching and pendulous lamina. Seeds 60-80 cm long, globose-ovoid, ripening reddish brown.