Medium-sized to fairly large tree up to 30(–40) m tall, but usually smaller; bole straight, cylindrical, up to 50(–80) cm in diameter, without buttresses or with short buttresses; bark grey to dark brown; crown dense, rounded. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound with a single pair of pinnae; stipules linear, caducous; petiole short, with large gland at apex on upper side; axes of pinnae 15–20 cm long; leaflets in 5–6 pairs per pinna, opposite, elliptical, 7–15 cm × 2–6 cm, acuminate, leathery, glabrous. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal pendent spike 6–10 cm long, arranged in panicles, many-flowered; bracts very small. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, small, sessile, hairy; calyx campanulate, c. 2 mm long, shortly toothed; petals fused at base, c. 4 mm long, pinkish to brownish orange; stamens 10, fused at base, much longer than petals, with glands at apex; ovary superior, slightly stalked, hairy, 1-celled, style long and slender. Fruit an obliquely oblong pod up to 17 cm × 4.5 cm, strongly flattened, long-attenuate at base, rounded at apex, woody, 2-valved, 5–10-seeded. Seeds angular, flattened.

PROTAbase: Calpocalyx brevibracteatus

A maceration of barks is applied as a mouthwash to treat sores. The inner bark is used against stomach-ache.