A tall pyramid-shaped tree. The younger branches are green, very slender, twig-like and reminiscent of pine tree leaves. The real leaves, however, are difficult to see and are located around the whorls on these twigs. Male and female trees are separate. In their place of origin, they grow on riverbanks, where they co-exist with other tree species.

The name comes from cassowary, a flightless Australian bird that has delicate feathers reminiscent of the branches of this tree.