The tree typically grows to a height of up to 20 m (66 ft) and has tessellated red-brown to grey-brown persistent bark throughout.

The thin discolorous leaves have a length of 12 to 20 cm (4.7 to 7.9 in) and a width of 14 to 35 mm (0.55 to 1.38 in) with obscure lateral veins.

The type specimens were collected by J.R. Clarkson on the track between New Dixie and Killarney stations on Cape York.

[4] The specific epithet honours John Richard Clarkson (born 1950) who worked at the Queensland Herbarium as a technician.

They recorded C. dolichocarpa as occurring from Charters Towers in Queensland to near Narrabri in New South Wales[8]: 267–268  and C. maritima from near-coastal areas from Cardwell to the Whitsundays.