Stem up to 22 m tall, thick at the base, stout, smooth with prominent rings, greyish, unbranched, remains of old leaves on the top of the stem. A tuft of leaves arises from apex of the stem, leaves pinnate, 3-4 m long, 120-180 cm broad, bright green, coriaceous, petiole green, smooth, unarmed, concavo-convex, stout, 1.1-1.3 m long, young petiole covered with brownish fibrous sheath, leaflets 100-105, opposite near the base, alternate and opposite near to the tip, acuminate. Bracts 45-90 cm long. Male flowers numerous on the upper part, small, coriaceous; sepals small; petals 1-1.1 x 0.4-0.45 cm; stamens 6. Female flowers ovoid, much larger than the male, having several broad bracteoles; sepals 2 x 1 mm. Fruit very large, 15-25 cm or more in length, green or yellowish, covered with thick fibrous mass, woody, inner wall lined by white endosperm matter and a milky fluid containing cytokinins.