[3] It is an evergreen tree native to southern and tropical Africa, living in the hot, dry, and often seasonally brackish low-lying areas, sometimes on abundant lime or occasionally on rocky terrain.

It has a prominent, sturdy white trunk frequently with strips of rough, dark-coloured bark.

The crown is often browsed by antelope and any grazers capable of reaching the foliage, resulting in a conspicuous flattened underside, or browse-line.

The fruits, on a jointed stalk, are about 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter and are brittle-skinned with a whitish flesh and large endocarp.

rehmanniana, the bushveld shepherd's tree, which has much smaller leaves and velvet-textured skin on its fruits.