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Air-dried leaves from Burkina Faso yielded 1.2% oil, with as main compounds β-pinene (31.0%), α-pinene (20.1%), limonene (16.8%), β-caryophyllene (6.6%), γ-terpinene (5.6%), p-cymene (3.2%), α-terpineol (3.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (2.0%). Fresh leaves from Nigeria yielded 0.28% essential oil. The major compounds were α-thujene (32.9%), 1,8-cineole (13.3%), p-cymene (12.9%), β -caryophyllene (7.8%), α-terpineol (2.6%), spathulenol (2.2%) and caryophyllenoxide (1.9%). The oil showed activity against the bacteria ''Escherichia coli'' and ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa'', but not against the bacteria ''Bacillus cereus'' and ''Staphylococcus aureus'' and the fungus ''Candida albicans''. Fresh leaves from DR Congo yielded 0.22% essential oil, with as main compounds β-pinene (25.3%), β-terpineol (13.6%), p-cymene (7.4%), α-terpineol (6.2%), 1,8-cineole (5.2%), limonene (4.6%), β-eudesmol (4.6%), α-pinene (4.3%), β-caryophyllene (4.3%) and spathulenol (4.1%). This oil showed activity against a range of bacteria and fungi.

More or less deciduous, small to large tree up to 25(–40) m tall; bole often of poor form, up to 60(–80) cm in diameter; bark smooth, pink-red to white or cream, surface covered with powdery bloom, exfoliating. Leaves alternate, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole flattened or angular, 10–33 mm long; blade lanceolate or ovate, 7–21 cm × 2–5 cm, acuminate at apex, thin, green, concolorous, lateral veins conspicuous. Inflorescence axillary, simple; umbels 3–7-flowered; peduncle terete or angular, up to 2 cm long. Flowers bisexual, regular; pedicel absent or angular, up to 7 mm long; flower buds globular to ovoid, 8–9 mm long, divided into a hemispherical hypanthium (lower part), 3–5 mm × 4–7 mm, and a hemispherical operculum (upper part), 3–5 mm × 4–7 mm, which is shed at anthesis; stamens numerous; ovary inferior. Fruit a hemispherical to obconical capsule 4–7 mm × 5–8 mm, opening with 3–4 exserted valves, many-seeded. Seedling with epigeal germination.