This is a solitary palm that develops a slender, smooth gray trunk, giving it an elegant, upright appearance well suited to tropical landscapes. A smooth green crownshaft supports a dense canopy of gracefully arching pinnate leaves that create a refined, tropical silhouette. The dark green leaflets are regularly arranged, forming a full, symmetrical crown that thrives in the humid environments of its native range. Branched inflorescences emerge from beneath the crownshaft, producing numerous small cream-colored flowers. These flowers mature into rounded fruits that transition from green to dark purple or black as they ripen, providing a food source for wildlife and aiding natural seed dispersal. The species epithet rivalis is Latin for "of the riverbank," an appropriate name for a palm that naturally grows along streams, riverbanks, and permanently wet forests on the island of Hispaniola.