Tree to 10 m high, deciduous. Branchlets appressed pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves not crowded; lamina elliptic or ovate, 6–13 cm long, 3.5–8 cm wide, 1.3–2, rarely 3 times as long as wide, cuneate and sometimes oblique at base, obtuse or obtusely acuminate at apex, discolorous, often shiny above, scattered appressed hairs below when mature; domatia not numerous, small, well defined; petiole 30–60 mm long. Spike open, shorter than leaves. Flowers 6–8 mm long, c. 6 mm diam. Calyx ± glabrous; lobes triangular, c. 2 mm long and wide. Staminal filaments c. 4 mm long. Disc villous. Style glabrous. Mature fruit ellipsoidal, with a distinct beak, 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm diam., succulent, smooth, dark red to black; immature fruit with 2 obscure lateral angles.
A small tree. It grows to 6 m tall. It is similar to Terminalia petiolaris but the leaf stalks are shorter and the fruit turn deep reddish colour when ripe.