An evergreen tree to 30 m with a clean bole to a dense short or long crown, not spreading but very shady. The trunk may be fluted and there are sometimes small buttresses. It has a rounded to oval fleshy edible berry, that is black when ripe. A hard fibrous seed lies within. The timber is hard, red and close-grained and takes a high polish. Firewood, charcoal, timber (construction, furniture, interior works), utensils (mortars), shade (for coffee, banana and cocoa). Plant as a pure stand for timber or intercrop with banana, coffee and cocoa. Kitchen utensils such as Mortars made of Strombosia have a reputation for being durable.