This is a clustering, acaulescent palm, meaning its stems are typically hidden beneath the ground or obscured by persistent leaf bases, with dense clumps spreading outwards over time.  It lacks a true crownshaft, with the leaf bases and petiole sheaths forming a fibrous mass densely armed with spines.  Its crown is made up of arching, pinnate leaves with glossy, dark green leaflets arranged in a neat, fishbone pattern; petioles and rachises are covered in sharp spines, making handling difficult.  Inflorescences emerge near the base of the plant and are dioecious—male and female flowers appear on separate plants—with the flowers often hidden within the dense lower foliage.  The fruits are oval to egg-shaped and covered in reddish-brown, scaly skin that resembles snake scales; they contain crisp, sweet, and acidic edible flesh surrounding one or more hard seeds.  This species is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia for its fruit, but is rarely grown ornamentally outside of tropical fruit farms or botanical gardens due to its formidable spines and dioecious nature.