The leaves are a distinctive hand-shape, and the pale yellow wood is similar in characteristics to balsa, being both lightweight and strong.

The egg-shaped, velvety fruits ripen and fall between March and May each year, and contain a thin exocarp around a thick, hard, pitted shell containing an edible nut.

[4] S. rautanenii (mongongo) R. heudelotii (njangsa) — tropical Africa G. madagascariensis (farafatsy) — south-western Madagascar G. stipularis — West Madagascar G. rottleriformis — peninsular India and Sri Lanka G. gosai — eastern Ethiopia to Kenya The mongongo is distributed widely through subtropical southern Africa.

The oil from the nuts has also been traditionally used as a body rub in the dry winter months to clean and moisten the skin.

The wood, being both strong and light, makes excellent fishing floats, toys, insulating material and drawing boards.