Habit: Drypetes diversifolia grows as a large shrub to small tree up to 8 m in height with smooth white to gray bark. The leaves are arranged alternately, ovate to elliptical, to 10 cm (usually smaller), with 2 forms: entire and spiny margined (usually on younger specimens), each with a round to acute apex. There are 2 deciduous triangular stipules at the base of the petiole.
Drypetes diversifolia is dioecious. The incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are groups in the axils of leaves. Staminate flowers with 4, yellow, pubescent tepals and 8 stamens and no carpel. In carpellate flowers there are 4-5 tepals and no stamens. The ovary is superior with 1 locule. The fruit is a white, obovoid drupe.
Habitat: Drypetes diversifolia grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Forest/Shrublands (coppice).
Distribution: Drypetes diversifolia is native to the Lucayan Archipelago, Florida, and Hispaniola.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Drypetes diversifolia is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.