Tree or shrub 1.5–15(–25) m. tall, with dark grey or brownish non-corky bark yielding yellow latex when cut; young branchlets red, angular.. Leaves opposite; blades elliptic to ovate, (3.5–)7–16 cm. long, (2–)2.5–7.5 cm. wide, ± long-acuminate at the apex, cuneate, obtuse or sometimes ± rounded at the base, usually ± coriaceous, glabrous; venation prominent on both faces with numerous lateral nerves; secretory canals continuous and opaque, ± parallel to the midrib, visible beneath; petioles red, (0.5–)1–1.5 cm. long.. Corolla white or creamy yellow to orange.. Male flowers in short axillary or terminal cymes, often raceme-like; pedicels 3–5 mm. long; sepals 4, ± round, unequal, the outer 2–2.5(–5) mm. long and wide, the inner 3.5–4(–10) mm. long and wide; petals 4, obovate, 8–9(–12) mm. long, 4–5(–10) mm. wide, glabrous; fasciclodes joined to form an obconic “ disc ” 2 mm. in diameter; staminal bundles 4, of 5–6 sessile stamens each; anthers not septate.. Female flowers usually solitary, axillary or terminal; pedicel 3–6 mm. long; sepals and petals resembling those of the male flowers; stamens absent or sometimes a few present, free and sterile; ovary 4-locular; stigma orange, sessile, 4-lobed.. Fruit orange, yellow or red, subglobose, 2–2.5 cm. in diameter, with a smooth surface, glabrous, edible.. Seeds 1–4, ellipsoid, 0.7–1.5 cm. long, 6–8.5 mm. wide, 3–5 mm. thick.
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A small evergreen understorey tree. It grows 6-13 m high. The crown is often thick and dark with many branches. All parts of the plant contain a sticky yellow sap. The bark is smooth and dark grey but becomes rough and flaky. The leaves are produced opposite each other. They are thick and leathery. The upper surface is shiny dark green and they are paler underneath. The edge of the leaf is rolled up and wavy. The leaves are oval and 6-12 cm long. The tip has a long point. The base is narrowed to a very short leaf stalk. The leaf stalk and main midrib is often tinged red. The flowers are white, yellow or orange. They are about 1 cm across. The female flower occurs alone and the male flowers in clusters of 2-3. There are 4 petals and sepals around a sticky orange centre. The flower is x-shaped when open. The fruit are fleshy berries. They are yellow-orange when mature. They are rounded and 2.5 cm across. They are edible but acid.
A tropical plant. It grows in high rainfall savannah woodland in Uganda. It grows in both wet and dry regions. It grows near the edges of forests along rivers. In Zimbabwe it grows between 920-1,820 m above sea level. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level and in areas with a rainfall between 800-1,800 mm. It grows well on sandy loams.
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Evergreen forest, riverine thickets, densely wooded grassland and in coastal forest on pure sand, at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres.
Plants grow naturally from seed. They can be grown from seeds and it is best to put them in nursery pots then transplant. To collect seed, ripe fruit are put in a cool place for the flesh to rot away then dried in the sun before separating the seed. The seed should be soaked overnight before sowing to break the seed coat. Seed should be sown fresh. They can be stored for 2 months in a cool place.
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