Slender joey

Description

Solitary, acaulescent palm, with subterranean procumbent stem to 15 cm in diameter. Leaves erect. ± lanceolate. to 3.5 m tall. Lamina to 2.4 m long and 30 em wide covered with brown scurfy scales on the underside. along the midrib and the primary nerves. Plicae numerous to 25 along each side of the costa. with small anastomosing veins between the plicae. Lower leaf margin with short spines (to 1 mm) as on the petiole. Petiole with two conspicuous yellow stripes. Leaf sheath fibrous to 25 cm long. withering to form a brown network of fibres. Inflorescence axillary buried between the petioles under a pile of dead leaves and other plant debris. Spathes at first cream. then turning brown. caducous. 3 - 4 in number. sparsely clothed in brown indumentum. to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. tubular at the base, not inflated, acute at the apex, split down one side. Peduncle tomentose to 25 cm long, 10 mm in diameter. with one order of branching.