About Belongs to the monotypic genus; Subfamily: Arecoidea; Tribe: Cocoeae.

Robust and solitary tree palm. Stem erect, 15-20 m high. Leaves pinnate, reduplicate, 15-20 in the crown. Inflorescences solitary, interfoliar, apparently protandrous, branching to one order. Mature fruit one-seeded, somewhat irregularly ellipsoid; seed irregularly ellipsoid, filling the endocarp cavity.

V. gerardii is the species with the highest chromosome number (2n=596) among the monocots (Johnson & al., 1989). Phylogenetically, itforms a robust clade with Beccariophoenix madagascariensis and Jubaeopsis caffra (Eiserhardt & al., 2011). The heart of this palm is edible and its seeds are traded on the international horticultural market (Rakotoarinivo & al., 2020).