These trees may grow to 10 m tall. No above-ground roots. Heart shaped leaves that are 10 to 15 cm across.
Fruits have five lobes and are brown and woody when ripe.
The flowers can be seen floating on the rivers of north Queensland. Smooth, grey bark. However, Thespesia has thinner, more elongated heart-shaped leaves and five dark dots at the centre of its flowers. Found on the landward edge of wet tropical mangrove forests, often growing along the high tide mark.