This is a clustering palm with slender, often partially subterranean stems that emerge in tight groups, typically forming low, dense colonies within the shaded understory of tropical forests. It has a compact crown of pinnate leaves that are shorter and more refined than those of larger canopy palms. The leaves are deep green with neatly arranged leaflets, giving the palm a tidy, elegant appearance adapted to low-light environments. Its inflorescences are borne close to the stem and produce relatively small but structured flower clusters typical of the genus. The fruits are rounded and develop in modest clusters, often partially hidden beneath the foliage, contributing to the plant’s subtle forest-floor presence. Sclerosperma walkeri was formally described in 2008, and was named after André Raponda-Walker (1871–1968), the Gabonese priest, ethnographer, and botanist who collected the type specimen.