This plant is a tree or shrub up to 10 m (33 ft) tall,[3][4] with a trunk that rarely exceeds 30 cm (12 in) diameter.

[3] There are eight stamens, and the anthers have a long spur at the base, which has a raised gland on the opposite side to filament attachment.

[2] Countries and regions in which this taxa grows are: Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (Hainan, Guangdong);[4] Laos; Myanmar; Bangladesh; India (Andaman Islands).

In Queensland, the tree/shrub occurs from southeastern region to the central- and north-east and Cape York Peninsula.

[5] It is found as an understory tree in monsoon-, drier or more seasonal rain-, open- and littoral-forests and in woodlands.

The scent is emitted by caudal glands on individuals rumps, cloacal secretions are possibly also involved.

The secretion is orange-coloured, molasses-like in texture and has a sweet, musky odour, that humans can smell up to 50m away.

In the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park area (Langkawi, Malaysia), the plant grows in association with mangrove forests, it is moderately abundant.

[6] In the traditional medicine of the Kuuku I’yu (Northern Kaanju) or Kaanichi Pama, the people of the inland highlands of central Cape York Peninsula, northeast Australia, the plant is used to treat skin infections and inflammations.