[2]: 10 [4] It was the first new plant species described in 2022,[4][5] and was named after American actor Leonardo DiCaprio by botanists Martin Cheek and George Gosline, from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Its trunk is smooth and tapering, reaching a diameter of "1.8–2.5 cm … at 1.5 m above the ground", with dark brown bark and occasional white horizontal lenticels.

It has a limited range, having only been found on the Dicam trail 2000 meters away from Bekob camp; multiple botanical surveys in the Ebo Forest and surrounding areas have not identified any additional specimens.

It is found in the submontane forest, at elevations from 200 to 1,200 m.[2]: 10 Uvariopsis dicaprio is currently known from a single specimen;[2]: 10  "fewer than 50 mature individuals have been observed despite extensive survey effort"[1] and the species's noticeable flowers.

[2]: 10  It has a restricted range, with extent of occurrence and area of occupancy both estimated at 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi), and is threatened by logging and conversion to agricultural land, including slash-and-burn practices.