The specific epithet ceylanica is from the Latin meaning "of Ceylon".

[2] Strombosia ceylanica grows up to 40 metres (130 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of up to 60 centimetres (24 in).

The roundish fruits are pink to purple and measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter.

[2] Strombosia ceylanica grows naturally in India's Kerala state,[3] Sri Lanka, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Its habitat is forests from sea-level to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) altitude.