This species is characterized by its robust habit, shiny leaves, and generally well developed stipules and calyx lobes. It is sympatric with Henriquezia nitida. Taylor et al. (2004) separated these by some features in the key here to species of Henriquezia, and also by the shape and position of the calyx scar on the fruit; that last feature may or may not be diagnostic, and needs more review. 

This species is morphologically rather variable. It has been separated into two varieties (Steyermark, 1963), but treated as one species without varieties by Rogers (1984), and Dávila (2016). The second approach is taken here. 

Humid, seasonal to evergreen, lowland forest and scrub, generally along rivers and often on sand substrates, 50-200 m, Rio Negro-Orinoco-Amazon River basin, central-northern Brazil to southern Venezuela.