The stems are clavate, cylindrical to spherical, in cross-section four-, five-or six-edged, and to about 10 inches long.
Each flower has five thin, elongated petal-like lobes, radiating in a star-shape, from a central raised disk or annulus.
The colour of most species flowers is shades of reddish brown, except for those of the rare Duvalia parviflora which are cream-coloured.
Only one species, Duvalia polita extends further east, and as far north into tropical Africa as Malawi and Zambia.
[2][3] Four species, occurring on the other side of the continent on the verges of the Red Sea, were formerly included in the genus Duvalia.