Plants dioecious, ± 1.3 m tall, with tuberous underground stem. Leaves few, forming a crown, pinnate, leaflets 14‑20 pairs; linear, falcate, parallel‑veined. Male cones cylindrical, up to 5.0 cm, compact. Micro sporophylls peltate, female cones 12‑15 cm long, oblong, tomentose. Megasporophylls compact, peltate, umbonate; each megasporophyll with 2 orange‑red ovules.

Type: Described from the Bahamas.

The `florida arrowroot' is native to America. Cultivated in Jinnah Garden, Lahore (fide R.R. Stewart, Annot. Cat. Vasc. Pl. Pak. & Kashm. 22. 1972). The starchy pith of the underground stem is edible.