Deciduous tree to 25 m tall, pagoda-shaped when young with whorls of tiered branches, mature trees with stout crooked branches and irregular crown. Leaves 12-25 cm long, obovate or elliptic. Flowers white or pale yellow-green, tiny both male and female flowers in unbranched clusters 8-16 cm long. Fruits 3.5-7 cm long, ovoid or ellipsoid, slightly flattened with a stiff narrow ridge along the edge, green ripening yellow.