This is a clustering palm with thin, cane-like stems.  The crown has arching, entire leaves with regularly spaced, narrow leaflets that are medium to deep green and may flush red or bronze when emerging; petioles are short and unarmed.  Its inflorescences are infrafoliar and branched, bearing small flowers that emerge directly from the base of the crown and are often pollinated by insects in the shaded forest understory.  The fruits are small, oval, and turn from green to bright orange or red when ripe, often presented in colorful clusters low on the stem.   This species is extremely rare in cultivation and is primarily found in specialty palm collections or high-humidity greenhouses.