Gouania meyenii, a member of the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family, is a shrub up to 2.2 m (7 ft) tall. Leaves are papery in texture, smooth on the upper surface and with no teeth on the margins. The leaves are oval or broader in outline and 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) long by 1.6 to 4.5 cm (0.6 to 1.8 in) wide. Flowers are arranged in clusters originating in the leaf axils. Sepals are 1.5 to 3 mm (0.06 to 0.1 in) long and white; petals are 1.2 to 1.8 mm (0.05 to 0.07 in) long and also white. The two- or three-winged fruits are 9 to 16 mm (0.4 to 0.6 in) long. Seeds are brown and 5 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) long.