Palms of moderate height, trunk annulate, stout, unarmed, frequently swollen at base, sometimes uniformly thickened, ringed, top of the stem covered with few old leaves and brown fibrous sheath. Leaves circular, fan-shaped, folded, coriaceous, divided into numerous segments, scales and hairs frequent; segments 1-ribbed, apex pointed, usually bifid. Petiole plano or concavo-convex, large, hard, usually spiny. Inflorescence interfoliar; bracts many, tubular, sheathing the branches and peduncle. Flowers minute, bisexual, solitary or clustered, calyx and corolla trilobed. Calyx lobes imbricate. Corolla lobes valvate. Stamens 6, filaments fused at base into a cup. Ovary 3-celled; carpels three, free, but fused by their styles; stigma minute, style short. Fruit small drupe, rounded, oblong or ellipsoid with fleshy smooth wall. Calyx adhering to the falling fruits. Seeds hollowed on the ventral face.