Shrub or small tree in permanent swamps. Leaves with 6 – 11 pairs of looping laterals; midrib finely channelled above; petiole soon corky, with stiff appressed but soon falling off hairs. Fruit 1 – 1.5 cm across, dehiscent, with dark seeds.

Common shrubs whose leaf arrangement (distichous) and rhombic form resemble some Drypetes species, like D. aubrevillei or D. klainei. Without flowers difficult to establish the difference with D. disticha. D. laciniata has twigs and petioles densely appressed with white silky hairs.

Common shrubs or small trees whose leaf arrangement (distichous) and rhombic form resemble some Drypetes species, like D. aubrevillei or D. klainei. Leaves simple, alternate; petiole very short, margin entire; long acuminate/caudate tip; blade asymmetric, rhombic, with ± 7 – 11 parallel laterals. The rhombic shape of the blade together with the long, drawn out apex are characteristic for Dicranolepis species. For certain identification flowers are needed. D. laciniata and D. disticha have fairly narrow leaves, D. persei has wider leaves. D. laciniata may occur in drier vegetation types, D. disticha more in the rain forest.