[3] Leaves are arranged in a spiral form and are often palmately compound, stipules are long (3 - 5 cm) and commonly covered in hairs.

The species occurs in Tropical Africa, from Guinea eastwards to the Sudan and southwards to Tanzania.

[3] Chemical compounds isolated from extracts of the species includes a few ursane type triterpenoids, tormentic, myrianthic and euscaphic acids and flavanols: epicatechin and dulcisflavan.

[4][5] The seeds of M. arboreus are eaten cooked; the leaves are made into a vegetable soup called ofe ujuju,[6] or used as livestock feed.

[7] Stem bark and leaf extracts are prepared as part of a decoction used in pain management and in the treatment of diabetes,[8] dysentery, wounds and infections.