This is a clustering, climbing rattan palm that produces long, flexible, spiny stems capable of scrambling and ascending high into the forest canopy. It lacks a crownshaft, with each stem bearing pinnate leaves equipped with specialized climbing structures such as cirri armed with hooked spines that allow the palm to anchor to surrounding vegetation. The leaves are deep green with narrow, regularly arranged leaflets, giving the plant a refined yet highly functional appearance suited to life in dense tropical forests. Its inflorescences are produced along the stems and are characteristically arranged to one side, a trait reflected in the species name. The fruits are small and covered in overlapping scales, developing in clusters typical of rattan palms.