Voacanga foetida grows as a tree up to 20 metres (70 ft) high, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimetres (16 in). The bark is grey, whitish brown or grey-brown. Its unpleasant-smelling flowers feature a white corolla. Fruit is up to 11 cm (4 in) in diameter. The specific epithet foetida is from the Latin meaning "evil-smelling". Habitat is forest from sea-level to 600 metres (2,000 ft) altitude. V. foetida is found in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.