[1][2][3] The species has been given the specific epithet "ekmanii" to honour the Swedish botanist Erik Leonard Ekman, who first documented it scientifically.

M. ekmanii is a slow growing tree, with oblong simple alternate leaves and white flowers.

This inspired the Haitian Creole name of the plant: abriko moron (lit.

The flowering period starts in June and peaks mid of July.

The species is endemic to southwestern Haiti, known only from a few mountains in the Occidental Massif de la Hotte.