The copaiba trees have shrub or arboreal habits, can reach up to 40 m height and 4 m diameter at breast height (dbh), have slow growth, and can live up to 400 years . Their cylindrical trunks contain intercellular secretory channels arranged in bands of marginal axial parenchyma, the lumen from secretory cells is formed schizogenously, and the oleoresin is synthesized in parenchyma cells of the canal. The species have alternate leaves, which are pinnate with 2–12 pairs of leaflets (opposite, alternate, or subopposite), usually glabrous, and may have translucent points and glands at the base of the marginal vein; they have small and interpetiolar stipules and are generally deciduous. The inflorescences are alternate panicles and the flower buds are protected by small bracts; they have small flowers, numerous and sessile, which are monoclamids with a tetramer chalice that forms short tubes and contains internally hirsute sepals. The androecium holds 10 free stamens, glabrous fillets, and oblong and rimose anther; and the gynoecium presents a sessile ovary with two elongate ovules, filiform style, and globular and papillary stigma. The fruits are bivalved, dehiscent, laterally compressed, and monospermic. The seed is a pendulum, oblong-globose, covered by abundant white or yellow aril, and lacking endosperm .