Belongs to the monotypic genus.

Tree 5 to 12 m tall, thick aromatic bark, completely smooth. Leaves alternate, evergreen, more or less clustered at the apex of the branches. Inflorescences terminal, elongated, in pseudo-umbels. Fruits ovoid, red.

It is a living fossil, the only surviving species belonging to the Winteraceae family in Africa (Helder, 1998). Its ovules are larger than those of other Winteraceae. Based on pollen morphology, Takhtajania appears to be closest to Drimys and Pseudowintera (Sampson, 2000). Phylogenetically, it is positioned at the root of diversification of this family (Karol & al., 2000).