The species name was originally spelled D. socotrana,[2] but this is corrected to masculine grammatical gender according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants.

The yellow flowers (3 cm), males and females are present on the same plant for cross pollination.

Contrary to what its region of origin would suggest, Dendrosicyos socotranus responds well to being drenched and fertilized, if the temperature is greater than 20 °C.

Numerous small twigs and branches grow from the stem, the bottle tree growth form making it distinctive.

The leaves are about 25 cm long and wide, its leaf edge being slightly thorny.

[8] Described in 1882 by Isaac Bayley Balfour, the species is generally described as endemic to the island of Socotra, although some sources (1887) state that it was present on the African continent in Djibouti.

It is quite abundant on the dry parts of the island of Socotra, associated with Croton socotranus in the plains, and on calcareous soils to 500 m elevation.

In times of severe drought trees are cut down, pulped and fed to livestock.

Thus, along the southern region of Socotra and on Samhah the recovery of populations of Dendrosicyos after drought is dependent on the presence of colonies of Cissus.