Tabernaemontana crassa grows as a shrub or small tree up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimetres (12 in). Its fragrant flowers feature white to pale yellow corolla lobes. Habitat is in forests or on coastlines from sea-level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) altitude. Its numerous local medicinal uses include as an anaesthetic, as a haemostatic, as an anthelmintic and in the treatment of rheumatism, kidney problems, rickets and conjunctivitis. It has also been used as arrow poison. T. crassa is native to Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo.