This is a tall palm with apparently destitute bark, annulate and about 30 cm diameter and upto 18 to 30 m high. Leaves are 12 to 20, large; the youngest rising from the centre, at first folded like a shut fan and then clothed with a downy substance, later on broadly ovate with a central rib and regular folds diverging from it; margins more or less deeply cut, especially at the extremity and yellow green. Spathes are sheathing at the base of the spadices and small. Male and female flowers are on different tree. Male ones are from the axils of the leaves, amentaceous, 60 to 120 cm long, 7.5 to 10.0 cm across in the thickest part, cylindrical, tapering towards the apex and closely covered on all sides with densely imbricated, semicircular and slightly convex scales.

Its fruits are alexipharmic, preservative and tonic.

Palms

It is used as tonic and febrifuge and prescribed for diarrhoea and vomiting. The water of its green fruits or of soft kernal is antibilious and antacid.

Sharma PV. Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.