Thaumatophyllum spruceanum is noted for its unusually hoop-shaped, parallel-pinnately veined, pedately divided leaves;[2] these are similar to those of the sympatric species Thaumatophyllum leal-costae.[3] Each leaf consists of 10-20 leaflets, with the central leaflet 18–50 cm long.[4]

T. spruceanum is self-heading (arborescent or tree-like) and occurs both as a terrestrial shrub in sandy soil along riverbanks and forest margins, and as a hemiepiphyte atop larger trees in dense forest.[5]

The fruit of T. spruceanum is edible and sweet, reminiscent of pineapple or banana.[5]