The species grows as a tree some 10–35 m tall, with a diameter at breast height of 7–70 cm and with its bole (bare trunk) 5–20 m high.

[3] The trunk and twigs of the species when cut quickly exude a milky sap which on exposure turns cream/yellowish.

They occur axillary, singly or in bunches, in February in Cape York Peninsula, but all year round in the rest of its range.

[2] The wood anatomy of this species has an unusual and reliably diagnostic character: the presence of latex tubes in the rays.

Countries and regions where the species grows are: Solomon Islands; Papua Niugini (Bougainville, Bismarck Archipelago, mainland); Australia (Cape York Peninsula, near Lockerbie and Iron Range); Indonesia (West Papua, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi); Timor.

[8] Along with Pometia pinnata and Pterocarpus indica, this species is one of the most abundant plants in the lowland rainforest near Baitabag, Ohu and Mis villages, Madang Province, PNG.

[8] The understorey is dominated by Cyathea, Cyrtandra, Garcinia and Medinilla species, with scattered Psychotria and Myrsine individuals.

In Cape York Peninsula the plant grows in gallery forest and dry seasonal rainforest, from near sea level to 100m elevation.

[4] The tallest, most impressive forests on Waigeo of the Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, contain the species as a co-dominant, along with Hopea novoguineensis, Homalium foetidum, Mallotus floribundus, Spathiostemon javensis, and Vatica rassak, with Elatostema and Piper quite common in the understorey.