A large shrub or small tree growing up to 6 m in height. Its main trunk is brownish to almost black in colour and covered in small whitish dots. Its alternately arranged leaves (12-20 cm long) are once-compound and have 7-31 leaflets with entire or finely toothed margins. These leaves give off a strong curry-like scent when they are crushed. Its small white flowers (10-12 mm across) have five petals and are arranged in large clusters at the tips of the branches. Its rounded or egg-shaped berries (10-16 mm long) turn blackish as they mature and contain one or two green seeds.