"daniellia oliveri" is a medium-sized, deciduous tree growing to a height of or more. it has a sometimes twisted trunk up to in diameter, and a broad, flat-topped crown, and usually lacks branches on the lowest of trunk. the bark is greyish-white, smooth at first but later flaking off in patches. the alternate leaves are pinnate, up to long, with six to eleven pairs of leaflets and no terminal leaflet. the inflorescence is a compound raceme, the individual scented bisexual flowers having five, unequal creamy-white petals. these are followed by flattened oblong pods each containing one seed.