Colubrina oppositifolia of the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family, a tree 5 to 13 m (16 to 43 ft) tall, has opposite, stalked, oval, thin, pinnately veined, toothless leaves with glands on the lower surface. Leaves measure 6 to 12 cm (2.4 to 4.7 in) long and 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) wide in mature plants and are larger in seedlings. Ten to 12 bisexual flowers are clustered at the end of a main stalk 3 to 8 mm (0.1 to 0.3 in) long; each flower has a stalk about 2 to 3 mm (0.07 to 0.1 in) long which elongates in fruit. The five triangular sepals measure about 1.5 to 2 mm (0.06 to 0 08 in) long, and the five greenish-yellow or white petals are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long. The somewhat spherical fruit, 9 to 11 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long, is similar to a capsule and opens explosively when mature.