The only species of its genus. The trunks are barely emergent or not at all, clustering, when above ground they are ringed with close leaf scars. The leaves are very big, reduplicate, either divided or bifid, with a short sheath and a long slender petiole. New leaves emerge red before turning green. The inflorescence spike emerges within the leaf crown and is often concealed. The round fruit becomes purple to black as it ripens.