Belongs to the monotypic genus.

Tree 10-12 m high. Twigs spotted with numerous tiny lenticels. Leaves distichous, simple. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate. Ripe fruit dry, indehiscent, glabrous, subglobose. Aril fully developed, deeply laciniate.

Doyleanthus differs from Mauloutchia in its ungrouped, pedicellate flowers and in the characters of its androecium. Phylogenetically, it forms a robust clade with the endemic genera of Madagascar Neobrochoneura and Maloutchia (Doyle & al., 2008).