Many-stemmed erect shrub or small tree up to 9 m tall with glabrous to densely pubescent branchlets. Leaves alternate, simple and entire; stipules quickly caducous; petiole 1–4 cm long, prominently thickened at base and at top; blade ovate, elliptical, obovate or lanceolate, 5–21 cm × 3–9 cm, base rounded to cuneate, apex acuminate, slightly leathery, almost glabrous, pinnately veined. Flowers in axillary fascicles, 1–5-flowered, bisexual, papilionaceous; pedicel slender, 3–17 mm long; calyx spathaceous, 8–10 mm long, glabrous but with a tuft of brown hairs at apex; corolla with standard suborbicular, 1–2 cm in diameter, white with a yellow centre, wings and keel white with a pocket near the base; stamens 10, filaments unequal, free, up to 7 mm long; ovary superior, sessile, glabrous, sometimes with a row of silvery hairs along the dorsal margin, 1-celled, style curved, filiform, stigma small. Fruit a compressed pod 8–16.5 cm × 1–1.5 cm, pointed at both ends, 1–4-seeded. Seeds almost circular in outline, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, brown.

Haemostatic and anti-inflammatory (leaves and bark)

PROTAbase: Baphia nitida

The leaves or leaf juice are applied against parasitic skin diseases and as eye drops for jaundice. A leaf infusion is drunk to cure enteritis and other gastrointestinal problems. Powdered leaves are taken with palm wine or food to cure venereal diseases. The leaves and bark are used for healing sores and wounds. An extract of young leaves with some salt and red pepper is used as nose drops against headache. The powdered heartwood is made into an ointment with shea butter which is applied against stiff and swollen joints, sprains and rheumatic complaints. A bark decoction is drunk to cure cardial pain and bark and leaves are prepared as an enema to treat constipation. The pounded dried root, mixed with water and oil, is applied to a ringworm-like fungus attacking the feet. Finely ground root bark, mixed with honey, is taken against asthma. A decoction of the leaves is taken against jaundice and diabetes; in combination with leaves of Morinda lucida Benth. it is a treatment against female sterility and painful menstruation. Externally it is applied, together with Cissus quadrangularis L., against bone fractures. A decoction of the bark is drunk against epilepsy.