Stems clustered, climbing, to 5 m, 1-1.5 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths with brown hairs, with scattered, brown, flattened spines to 1.5 cm (sometimes to 3 cm at sheath apices); ocreas short; knees present; flagella to 2 m; rachis to 1.3 m with 33-45 linear pinnae per side, these regularly arranged; middle pinnae 20-25 cm, 1-1.5 cm wide at mid-point, adaxial veins and margins bristly; cirri absent. Inflorescences to 2 m, flagellate; inflorescence bracts tattering. Fruits yellowish brown, globose, to 1 cm in diam.

This species provides a cane used in furniture-making.

● Lowland rain forests; below 600 m. Hainan.