Afrocarpus mannii is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the Afromontane forests of São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea, growing on Pico de São Tomé at altitudes of 1,300 m (4,300 ft) up to the summit at 2,024 m (6,640 ft).
This is the only Gymnosperm found on São Tomé e Príncipe.
The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 6–8 cm long on mature trees, larger, to 15 cm long and 2 cm broad, on vigorous young trees.
The seed cones are highly modified, with a single 2 cm diameter seed with a thin fleshy coating borne on a short peduncle.
The pollen cones are 1.5-2.5 cm long, solitary or in pairs on a short stem.