It is an evergreen tree that grows to about 8 to 15 m high. Barringtonia is a tree 5-8 m tall with rough fissured dark grey bark. Its leaves are thick, smooth and oval in shape, with reddish petioles.

The plant has drooping raceme of up to 50 cm long, with numerous large, white flowe Its fruit is oval-shaped and about 3 cm long, with 1 seed inside. The fruit is spoken of as Samudra-phala & nurses fruit is one of the best known domestic remedies. Four-sided fruits are produced periodically throughout the year. Partly deciduous in extended dry periods.