A typical Anthocleista species with long, custered leaves but the branches without thorns; leaves ± sessile, rounded at the top. Small to medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall; bole up to 50 cm in diameter; twigs without spines. Leaves opposite, simple, sessile; blade oblong-obovate to oblanceolate, 40–45 cm × c. 20 cm, in young plants up to 145 cm × 45 cm, base cuneate, auricled, apex rounded, margin entire or minutely crenate. Outside the forest, in swamps, roadsides, and open places in secondary forest.