It is native to tropical South America, in northern Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

[4][5] It is a large, fast-growing tree growing up to 50 m tall with a trunk up to 1.3 m diameter, often buttressed at the base up to 2 m diameter, with rough, silvery-grey to reddish-grey bark.

The leaves are alternate, broad lanceolate, with an entire margin and a petiole with a complex vascular system.

The flowers are small, yellow-green, with five sepals and petals; they are produced in clusters, and are wind-pollinated.

The fruit is an orange-red berry-like drupe 5 mm diameter, containing 5–10 seeds; it is eaten by various birds (including cotingas, pigeons, tanagers, thrushes, and trogons), which disperse the seeds in their droppings.