Euphorbia haeleeleana, a member of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family, is a dioecious (female and male flowers on separate plants) tree 3 to 14 m (10 to 46 ft) tall. The alternate leaves are papery in texture, elliptic, and usually 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long and 4 to 6 cm (2 in) wide. Male trees bear many small male flowers within a cyathium (a compact inflorescence with small individual flowers). The female trees have cyathia with a single female flower surrounded by numerous abortive male flowers. The capsules (dry fruit that open at maturity) are round.