常綠喬木，樹皮紅褐色。葉長倒卵形或長橢圓形，全緣、革質、光滑，先端鈍或圓，有時呈凹頭；互生，多叢生於枝端，中肋顯著，殆無柄，長20～30公分，寬10～15公分。頂生總狀花序，兩性花，花4～15枚，大形，顯著張開狀，開放時徑12～15公分，花瓣4枚，闊卵形，白色或帶淡紅色；雄蕊多數，花絲細長，白色，但先端為紅色，著生於花瓣基部。果壓縮陀螺形，具四稜，長寬約11×11公分，外果皮光滑，中果皮具纖維質；種子1。花期 7～9 月。
分布於印度洋（模里西斯）往東、泰國、中南半島、菲律賓、臺灣、澳洲至密克羅尼西亞，以及美拉尼西亞間之大洋洲周域，為一種能在印度―太平洋間，長距離散布之海漂樹種。在臺灣僅產於恆春半島、蘭嶼及綠島地區，為熱帶海岸林的代表性樹種之一。於恆春半島的野生植株，多長於墾丁西岸的香蕉灣熱帶海岸林生態保護區，該區是目前臺灣保存較完整的天然海岸林，本種於其內屬優勢樹種。因其具四稜壓縮陀螺形果，一般稱它為「墾丁肉粽」。花期約在每年夏季5至10月，傍晚開始綻放直至午夜才會盛開。
海岸林又稱為海漂林，其主要組成樹種的果實通常具有海漂的能力，本種在臺灣天然分布地區，因臨近海域常可撿到棋盤腳樹的果實，這些區域也因此成為其自然生育地。
具漂亮的花及果實，花朵的雄蕊達數百枚，璀璨開花過程雖短暫，但綠葉搭配鮮豔粉白花，清新高雅頗具景觀價值，因此被大量採種引種至全臺公園或學校，推廣栽為綠美化樹種。不過在蘭嶼的達悟族原住民，認為用其木材所拼造製成之船容易崩裂，多不勘使用，且其在夜間開花，因此將本種視為不祥的樹種。另果實、種子和樹皮搗爛可毒魚。
Fish poison tree is an evergreen tree growing to 7 – 25 meters tall, and its tree bark is reddish brown. Its leaves are long and oval, 20 – 30cm in length, and 10 – 15cm in width, glossy, and alternate. Its fruit is known as Box Fruit due to its geometric shape. It measures 9 -11 cm in diameter and is dispersed by ocean current. As a drift seed, the fruit can stay afloat and survive for at least 15 years in the ocean. Its large pinkish white flowers are fragrant which attracts bats and moths for pollination.
This tree is distributed across the Indian Ocean, all the way to Southeast Asia and Australia. The entire tree is poisonous, and its seeds can be grounded into powder and used to stun or kill fish, hence its name. Although poisonous, Fish poison tree is often planted in parks or on the streets for ornamental and shade purposes.