This is a graceful, single or weakly clustering palm from tropical rainforests where it occupies understory to mid-canopy positions. It has a light gray-green, smooth stems ringed with faint leaf scars that are closely spaced, giving it a tidy, bamboo-like appearance.  The crownshaft has a distinct olive-green to yellowish-green color. The pinnate leaves emerge with a delicate arch, carrying numerous leaflets, and maintain a soft green coloration throughout the plant’s life. Its inflorescences bear small, inconspicuous flowers, leading to small fruit that turns bright red or orange-red at maturity. This species is considered somewhat rare in collections, making it a prized specimen for specialty palm growers.