The 10–18 cm wide trunk is grey, fissured, and bears only a few stilt-roots near the base of the stem.

Each fruit-head holds an extremely variable number (50-150) of drupes, which also vary in size, colour and shape.

The drupes' exposed parts are often raised and conical, often covered in cracks and scattered stigmas.

[2][3][4] It is endemic to Mauritius, and dense clumps of it are quite common in the highlands, in marshes and on hill slopes.

The leaf tufts can cause longer branches to break off and root on the ground where they fall.