Barringtonia hallieri grows as a small tree up to 5 metres (20 ft) tall, with a stem diameter of up to 6 centimetres (2 in). The fruits are oblong to banana-shaped, up to 14 cm (6 in) long. Habitat is riverine and mixed dipterocarp forests from sea-level to 900 metres (3,000 ft) altitude. B. hallieri is endemic to Borneo.