Barringtonia reticulata grows as a shrub or small tree up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 20 centimetres (10 in). The bark is grey. The specific epithet reticulata is from the Latin meaning "like a network", referring to the leaf veins. B. reticulata is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.