Primary venation is pinnate (rarely palmate). Laminar venation is highly variable, being dichotomous to pinnate to densely reticulate. It has elliptic smooth-edged leaves with pinnate venation. Leaves are alternate, simple or compound with pinnate venation. The leaves are simple with pinnate venation. Leaves are usually compound, bifoliate, trifoliate, pinnate, or palmate, or rarely simple. At the base of each pinnate leaf petiole grow two thorns, about long. They are slender, evergreen palms with yellow flowers carried in panicles amongst the pinnate leaves. The leaf blade is narrow or broad with pinnate veins running parallel to the midrib. Plants with pinnate leaves are sometimes colloquially called "feather-leaved". The large and thick leaves are deeply cut into pinnate lobes. The leaves are bristly and alternate in a pinnate pattern that separates into thin segments. Rarely are the leaflets arranged in true pinnate form with evenly spaced leaflets. They are either lobate or pinnate, with spiny edges. The leaves are pinnate with opposite paired leaflets.