Pleioceras barteri grows as a shrub, liana or small tree up to 4 metres (13 ft) tall. Its flowers feature dark red or violet corolla lobes with yellow apex. Habitat is in forests, bush or open ground in coastal areas from sea-level to 500 metres (1,600 ft) altitude. Local traditional medicinal uses include as an emmenagogue, abortifacient and also in the treatment of rheumatism and malaria. P. barteri is native to Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic.