It is a tree with buttress roots at the base of the trunk, mostly more or less elliptic leaves, cream-coloured flowers with five petals that sometimes have a divided tip, and more or less spherical fruit.

Elaeocarpus ruminatus is a tree that typically grows to a height of 20–40 m (66–131 ft) and has buttress roots at the base of the trunk.

[2][3] Elaeocarpus ruminatus was first formally described in 1872 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from material collected by John Dallachy near Rockingham Bay.

[4][5] Elaeocarpus ruminatus is widespread in rainforest at altitudes between 600 and 1,100 m (2,000 and 3,600 ft) in north-eastern and central-eastern Queensland.

[3] Brown quandong is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.