| Field notes | "Maraja"-type. Stem cespitose, to 3 m tall, 2 - 2.5 cm diam., brown, internodes 8 - 12 cm long, light brown, just below node a ring of flat black spines pointing down to 4 cm long, largest on side of petiole. Leaves 9, spreading; sheath 35 cm long open almost to base on outer leaves, green, densely covered with downward pointing flat brown spines to 3 cm long; petiole 60 cm long, green, terete except for small adaxial flattening on basal part, with spines similar to those of sheath; rachis 120 cm long, green, at first with spines below similar to those of sheath, rounded below, ridged above; pinnae 23 per side, unevenly spaced in groups of 2 - 4, arranged in different planes especially at base of leaf, sigmoid, smooth except for fine spines along margins, long acuminate; basal pinna 23 x 5 cm; middle pinna 35 x 6 cm; apical pinna 20 x 5 cm. Inflorescence interfoliar, in axil of 3rd leaf from base; peduncle 25 cm long, turning laterally from axis, creamy white at base, green at top, dorsiventrally flattened; prophyll 20 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, fibrous decaying; peduncular bract scar 7 cm above base; rachis 2 cm long; rachillae 7, 8 cm long, each with 2 - 4 fruits; fruits subglobose, slightly apiculate, 1.5 - 2 cm diam. purplish black. |
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