This is a solitary palm with a sturdy, upright trunk. Its crown has large leaves with an unusual form—remaining whole near the base but splitting into numerous leaflets toward the tip. The crown is a dramatic shuttlecock of 15–20 arching fronds, each up to 5 meters long, with bright green leaflets that can vary greatly in shape from plant to plant. The inflorescences emerges from among the leaves, bearing small cream-colored flowers in clusters. The fruit is ovoid and bright orange when ripe. This rare Madagascan species is found only in scattered rainforest habitats and is prized by collectors for its beauty and unusual foliage.