Similar in form to Mauloutchia in all vegetative and inflorescence characters, but unambiguously different in its monocyclic androecium (multiple stamens) with 3–4 strictly sessile anthers. It has a fully developed, deeply laciniate aril (seed coating), a condition otherwise found only in Madagascar in Mauloutchia heckelii, from which Doyleanthus may easily be distinguished by its unclustered, pedicellate flowers as well as its androecium characters.
