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Description:
Tree 3-20 m high, solitary or clumped; crown narrowly pyramidal
or columnar in the open to more ovoid underneath other trees,
with a terminal tuft of large leaves on the stem, and lateral
branches ending in tufts of smaller leaves. Stem 10-25 cm in
diameter ; stilt-roots to 3 m high. Leaves 0.3-1.1 m long, 1.5-
3 cm wide, on young vigorous trees 0.5-1.5 m long and 2.5-5 cm
wide, rigid; prickles on leaf margin 0.6-3.3 mm long. head at
anthesis 4.3-6 cm long, 2-4.5 cm across, erect, the ovaries all separate;
styles reniform. Syncarp solitary, ovoid with pointed apex,
(6-)11-15 cm long, 6-10 cm wide, with 450-600 drupes. Peduncle
16-31 cm long; bracts to 36(-57) × 3 cm; drupes 18-34 × 5-
12 × 5-18 mm, (4-)5-6-angled, 1(-3)-locular ; pileus 2.5-5 mm
long, 5-18 mm across, slightly raised ; stigma 1(-3), reniform to
horseshoe-shaped; endocarp 7-11 mm long, mesocarp fibrous.
Staminate flowers in densely branched spiciform inflorescences;
peduncle ± 12 cm long; axis of inflorescence 10-30 cm long
with 6-10 branches, each subtended by conspicuous large offwhite
or cream bracts to 31(-89) × 5 cm; inflorescence branches
cylindrical, 3-17 × 1-3 cm, densely packed with many flattened stemonophores 2-7.5(-11) mm long, each bearing at its apex (2-)4-
7(-11) stamens ; filaments (0.6-)1.1-3.7 mm long, slightly flattened;
anthers 1-2.8 mm long, ellipsoid, apex rounded with a
small apiculum, creamy white
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