Large tree, up to 30 m tall; bark whitish, covered with stout, hard, conical prickles, occasionally without; branches prickly, spreading nearly horizontally. Leaves digitate; leaflets elliptic, 8–15 × 3–5.5 cm; apex long cuspidate to acute; base acute to obtuse; coriaceous, glabrous on lower surface; midrib and lateral veins distinct on lower surface; lateral veins in 9–15 pairs, arched and anastomosing near margin. Petiole 12–18 cm long; glabrous, petiolule 0.5–2 cm long. Flowers solitary, at upper leaf scars; buds ellipsoid, ca. 3 × 1.5 cm; pedicel 5–10 mm, glabrous. Calyx cup-shaped, c. 2 × 3 cm, with (3–)4(–5) unequal lobes, containing silky hairs. Petals red, dark orange, or bright yellow; obvate-oblong; 5–8 × 2.5–3 cm; erect, then recurved; with soft hair on both sides. Stamens numerous, 3.5–7 cm long, united at base to a short staminal tube, enclosing ovary and lower part of style, then divided into 10 groups, the outer 5 each with 5–6 pairs, equal and erect; the inner 5 each with 5 unequal stamens attached to the style. Anther single-celled, reniform, then twisted. Ovary ovoid, 5-grooved longitudinally, glabrous. Style cylindrical, pinkish, 8–8.5 cm long, protruding beyond stamens. Stigma dark pink, with 5 spreading lobes. Capsule oblong, smooth, smoothly woody within, 8–10 × 4–5 cm, dehiscent. Seeds numerous.

A common tree in dry deciduous forests. Propagated by seed sowing.
Dried stamens are collected during the dry season and commonly added to curries and other dishes, particularly in northern Thailand.