Stems clustered, short and subterranean. Leaf sheaths and ocreas not seen; petioles to 1 m, unarmed or proximal ca. half with widely spaced, recurved, brown spines to 1 cm; blades to 1 m wide, split into 15-22 segments, green on both surfaces, with slightly curved sides; middle segment slightly wider than others, not split, 25-52 cm, 2-6 cm wide at apex. Plants monoecious. Inflorescences shorter than leaves, to 1.5 m, erect among leaves; rachis to 75 cm, with 3-7 first order branches, these spicate, rarely with 2 or 3 rachillae; rachilla 1(-3), 15-20 cm, densely hairy; flowers borne in clusters. Fruits globose, 0.7-0.8 cm in diam., with clasping perianth, red at maturity, borne on short stalks.

The leaves are used to make raincoats.

● Lowland rain forests; below 500 m. Guangdong, Hainan.