All that remains from this species in the wild is a single specimen currently located in the Curepipe Botanic Gardens on Mauritius. It is thought to be the last remaining palm from what was once a larger wild group on the island.  This particular specimen sits behind a barbed wire fence protecting it from poachers and tropical storms.   This is a solitary palm with a trunk is smooth and gray, with a slight bulge at the base, characteristic of the genus. It has a smooth green crownshaft.  The crown is adorned with feathery, pinnate leaves that arch gracefully. One of the most distinctive features of this palm is its inflorescence, which emerges from the upper part of the trunk. The flowers are white or cream-colored and and grow on a branched inflorescence.  The small round fruit turns red as it ripens.  There have been many failed efforts to germinate its seeds.  Researchers at Kew Gardens have managed to at least raise a few seedlings in vitro starting in 2010.