It is called "aetamba" (ඇටඹ) or "wal amba" in Sinhala and “kaddu-ma” in Tamil.

The well-known British botanist and explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker first described the tree in 1876.

Bark in older trees is rough, deeply fissured, with strips 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) wide, and dark to light brown.

The dark green leaves are stiffly coriaceous, glabrous, and emit a mango aroma when damaged.

When ripe, which is when it falls of the tree, it is very juicy and fluid with soft, thin, fibres.

The yellow pulp has a pleasant sweet taste, but is slightly acid when unripe.

It occurs at low population densities, scattered here and there in forests, and, like many native plants, is declining in unprotected areas.