| Field notes | Dense clumps in places where the forest has been replaced by pasture. Clumps 4-5 m in diam with over 100 stems of different heights. Individual stems to 4 m tall and 3-4 cm in diam, spiny at the internodes. Crown of 6-8 spreading leaves, blade falling of at the petiole and the old sheaths remaining for sametime, sheaths 40-60 cm long, very strongly spiny, completely encircling the stem, petioles 20-40 cm long, blade ca 140 x 70 cm with 15 pinnae on each side, these not arising at regular interval but rather in groups of 3-4 separated by 10-15 cm. Inflorescences 1-3 on each stem, arising in the axils of old leafsheaths and the lowermost leaves that still bear blades, spathe densely covered with small brown spines. |
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