The plant grows to about 30cmtall with a diameter of 15–20 cm. Its darkgreen leaves are 50–150 cm long and have leaflets that angle 180° from the rachis, tapering to thorns near the base. This species is dioecious, with yellowmale cones measuring 20–25 cm long and 5–7 cm in diameter, and yellow female cones measuring 25 cm long and 12–15 cm in diameter. The seeds are oblong, 25–30 mm long and 15–20 mm wide, with a redsarcotesta.