Daphnandra apatela is a member of the ancient Gondwana family Atherospermataceae, the southern sassafrases.

It was formerly considered Daphnandra micrantha, the Australian socketwood; however, it has been recognised as a separate species, as published by Richard Schodde.

A feature where larger branchlets meet the main trunk resembles a ball-and-socket joint, hence the common name of socketwood.

Daphnandra apatela is a medium to large tree, sometimes exceeding 30 metres tall with a trunk diameter of up to 75 cm.

The fruit is a capsule covered in fine brown hair, egg shaped, round or sometimes asymmetrical, and 12–25 mm long.