Borassus aethiopum is a tall, single-stemmed palm tree that can reach up to 25 meters (82 feet) in height. The trunk is grayish-brown and covered in leaf scars. The leaves are fan-shaped and can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet) long. The fruit is a large, round, brown drupe with a fibrous outer layer and a hard, woody inner shell that contains several seeds.