A medium to large sized tree, the species is capable of reaching more than in height and up to in diameter. The largest specimen, said to be the largest tree in
Liberia is height and 2.2 m diameter (7 m girth). It has a cylindrical trunk with buttressed roots at the base, the crown is fairly open, spreading and with drooping leaves. The bark is thick, smooth but sometimes has irregular scales, it is greyish in color while the slash is hard, reddish brown turing dark red upon exposure and exuding a reddish sap. Leaves are alternate and paripinnately compound and normally has about 8 - 10 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are elliptic in shape and papery in texture, up to long and wide, with the apex pointed while the base is rounded. Inflorescence are in dense terminal or axillary panicles and bearing spikes from long. == Distribution and habitat ==