A widespread species, often quite gregarious; can grow into a dominant tree to 45 m tall and 150 cm Ø. Base of the tree variable, with low root spurs when young and thick, narrow buttresses when older. Crown a vast-spreading dome with heavy branches, often with many epiphytes. Foliage often rather reddish when seen from below. The yellowish-grey bark densely covered with warty lenticels, scaly with large, irregular scales. Slash hard and brittle-granular, red – pale brown with brighter inclusions, moist with some clear watery sap. Leaves simple, alternate, petiole 5 – 13 mm long, with a pair of obscure or distinct glands halfway. Blade elliptic, 6 – 13 x 2.5 – 5 cm, with 15 – 22 pairs of laterals. Fruits ovoid, 2.5 – 6 cm long x 1.5 – 4 cm across, rough with warty spots (“rough skin plum”); mesocarp mealy, 4 – 8 mm thick, eaten by many animals. See also PROTA database. See also Parinar excelsa subsp. holstii.