| Field notes | Solitary, single-stemmed, dioecious palm with stem to 13.4m tall. Stem 140cm circumference at base, widening to 202cm at 10m height. Stem grey with indistinct leaf scars, partially obscured by fire and lichens. Crown of 27 green leaves, including 3 unexpanded leaves in the sword. Leaves costapalmate, costa between 158cm and 186cm long. Petiole dark brown to yellow-green, armed with recurved black spines, and between 168cm and 188cm long. Lamina divided to between 68cm and 105cm, with between 102 and 106 leaflets. Shortest leaflet between 59cm and 75cm long. Male tree with 5 newly-emergent inflorescences, and 7 inflorescences remaining from last year. Inflorescences to 11 3cm long and branching to 2 orders. Up to 3 empty bracts in each inflorescence. 1-3 rachillae on each rachis. Rachillae to 70cm long, and 4cm diameter. Some rachillae deformed into a 'snake's head'. First flowers emerging. Specimens preserved using the Schweinfurth method, which may cause discolouration. Leaves occasionally used for thatching or weaving, though considered inferior to those of Cocos and Hyphaene. Vernacular: mvumo, Dialect: Swahili |
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