In habitat, it can be found near coastal rainforests near river beds. This species is a clustering palm with a few dominant trunks. Periodically, it will produce a number of suckers at the base. The leaves are glossy dark green on top and grayish below and slightly notched at the tip. It produces small yellow flowers, Only the lowermost inflorescence produces fruit, which is round and turns red, purple or brown as it ripens. This is a monocarpic species, meaning that once the inflorescence has produced its fruit, the trunk dies and is replaced by another stem. Very rare in cultivation.