Small evergreen tree 3-5 m tall. Leaves pinnately compound with terminal leaflets, 15-25 cm long, leaflets 3-4 on each side of rachis. Flowers 2-5 cm long, light purple, clustered in axils of old leaves on branches. Fruits 5-8 cm long, ellipsoid with a characteristic shape in cross-section resembling a 5-pointed star, yellowish green when ripe.