Tall, stout, palm tree; trunk smooth, annulate with bases of leaf scars; leaves flabellately plicate, orbicular or reniform, segments 80-90, united in lower part, each segment bifid to the middle, linear-lanceolate, smooth; petioles long, margins with recurved spines pendulous; spadix paniculate, long peduncled, erect, fruiting pendulous; spathes many, tubular, compressed, sheathing; flowers white, minute, bisexual with unpleasent odour; sepals-3, rounded, imbricate; corolla 3-lobed, coriaceous, lobes valvate; stamens-6, filaments subulate, united in a ring, anthers cordate; ovary of 3, nearly free carpels, ovule basilar, erect, styles short, free or coherent, stigmas minute; drupes 1-3, depressed, globose, oblong or ellipsoid, olive green; seed erect, albumenous.