It occurs in many parts of south-east Asia, Micronesia, and on islands of the Indian Ocean,[2] and has local common names there.

Planchonella obovata grows as a bushy-crowned tree reaching a maximum height of 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft).

[3] The tree was first described as Sersalisia obovata by Robert Brown in his 1810 work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.

Indumentum was present on the leaf surface of the Australian and Indonesian samples, and absent in material from Papua New Guinea.

[5] It can be grown in conditions with good drainage with sunny aspect, and can be propagated by seed.