Mangeao grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) in height, and has smooth dark greyish brown bark.

The flowers are small, in umbels of 4 to 5, the fruit is an oblong-ovoid drupe, 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long, reddish and seated on a disc.

A tree planted by the Reverend Richard Taylor in 1860 was measured about 120 years later as 13 m (43 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 92 cm (36 in).

Thriving best on limestone-derived soils or heavy clays, mangeao requires good drainage and has low tolerance of drought conditions.

In the 19th century it was used for many purposes including the making of barrels and wheels, and for boat frames, railway carriages and sporting goods.