Palm with solitary trunk up to 12 m tall and up to 18 cm in diameter, sometimes enlarged at base. Leaves c. 10 in crown, arranged spirally, up to 3 m long, pinnately compound; sheath 30–60 cm long, red turning brown at maturity, with numerous spines up to 11 cm long and shedding at maturity; petiole up to 30 cm long, often spiny; leaflets in 25–65 pairs, up to 105 cm × 4 cm, with bristles on midrib above. Inflorescence below the leaves, up to 50 cm long, peduncle short, branches long and pendulous, unarmed or with dark-brown spines up to 15 cm long. Flowers unisexual, 3-merous, white or cream-coloured, arranged in triads of 2 male flowers and 1 female flower; male flowers with imbricate sepals c. 2 mm long, valvate petals up to 8 mm long and (4–)6–12 stamens; female flowers with imbricate sepals c. 3 mm long, imbricate petals up to 5 mm long, 6–9 small staminodes and superior, 1-celled ovary. Fruit an ellipsoid to globose drupe up to 1 cm long, 1-seeded. Seed globose, c. 7 mm in diameter, brown; endosperm homogeneous.

Diuretic (roots)

PROTAbase: Acanthophoenix rubra

A decoction of roots is useful in treating edema and difficult voiding.