Solitary palm. TRUNK 10-15 m high, 15-40 cm diam. LEAVES with sheath very large, green (Perrier), distally with dense dark brown laciniate scales, with square shoulders, not very large, to c. 8.5 cm wide when flat; petiole 2-13 cm long, up to 4 cm diam., flat with sharp margins and with dense dark scales; rachis in mid-leaf 1.3-2.2 cm wide, proximally channelled, distally keeled, with scattered white hairs and reddish glands; leaflets not very stiff, the distal half pendulous, in groups of 2-4 in mid-leaf, the group interval 2.5-5 cm, the leaflet interval 0.2-0.6 cm; proximal 47-132 x 0.6-1.2 cm, median 50-72 x 1.9-2.7 cm, distal 13-33 x 0.5-2.5 cm, main vein 1, margins thickened, sometimes slightly glaucous, pale faint glands scattered on the minor veins, apices bifid, unequally attenuate or acute. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar or infrafoliar, branched to 2 orders, erect or arching; prophyll 25-30 cm long, c. 6.6 cm wide, with scattered scales, borne at 14 cm above the base of the peduncle; peduncular bract 42-70 cm long, c. 10 cm wide, with scattered scales, beaked for 2 cm, opening over its entire length; first order branches with a secondary rachis of 6-18 cm, proximally 1.2-1.8 x 0.4-0.7 cm diam., glabrous, with 6-14 rachillae; rachillae 14-25 cm long, 2.5-4 mm diam., with distant to close slightly sunk triads, rachilla bracts proud, acute. STAMINATE FLOWERS seen as densely packed buds, with sepals 2.7-3.1 x 2.5-3.3 mm; petals 2.5-2.8 x 2.2 mm; stamens 6, uniseriate, filaments c. 1 mm and thin, anthers c. 1.3 x 0.6 mm; pistillode c. 1.8 x 0.5 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS not seen, but fruit with persistent sepals 3-3.4 x 3.2-4 mm; petals 4.5-5.2 x 3.5-6 mm; staminodes 0.8-1 mm. FRUIT ellipsoid, 13-17 x 8.5-12 mm (to 25 x 18 mm when fresh), with a rounded apex. SEED ellipsoid, 9.5-15 x 7.5-10 mm, with pointed base and rounded apex; endosperm ruminate, the ruminations distant, 1-2 mm deep.

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Montane forest, in moist depressions or on ridge crests; 1400-2000 m. Said to be very common.

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Only known from Mt Tsaratanana.

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Unknown. Not seen for over seventy years, but the Tsaratanana area has not been visited by botanists for a long time.

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Palm-heart slightly bitter, but edible.

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Laboka, Hovatra, Lavaboka.

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