A rare tree of the rain forest and semi deciduous forest, to 25 m high and 80 cm Ø; bole slightly irregular, twisted or fluted at base. Bark longitudinally fissured, with large bark scales leaving yellow patches when falling; slash fibrous, yellowish outside, paler inside. Leaves with about 11 (5 – 19) alternate leaflets, larger towards the tip. Characteristic fruits: long, black and shiny, cylindrical, hanging pods of up to 30 long, slightly resembling fruits of Cassia. Tree not yet recorded from Liberia but present in Ivory Coast. See also PROTA database. Syn.: Swartzia fistuloides.