Stems clustered, climbing, to 50 m, 3-6 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths green with brown hairs, with densely arranged, yellowish, flattened, triangular, downward-pointing spines to 4 cm; ocreas absent; knees present; flagella absent; rachis to 2 m with 14-22 broadly lanceolate pinnae per side, these regularly arranged, tending to be irregular on younger leaves; middle pinnae 36-40 cm, 2-5 cm wide at mid-point, margins bristly; cirri to 1.5 m. Inflorescences to 1 m, not flagellate; inflorescence bracts tubular. Fruits yellowish, globose, to 3 × 2.3 cm.

This species provides a high-quality cane used in furniture-making and binding. It has been introduced into other areas of China for trial plantings.

● Lowland rain forests. Hainan.