This species is found in the Congo (formerly Zaire) and other small countries of West Africa and is a member of the great tree producing family, Leguminosae.

The heartwood is dark brown, almost black. On the quartersawn surface, fine pencil-thin, light tan lines interspersed with blackish brown stripes make the surface appear as if it has been stroked by the fine claws of some wild jungle animal. On the tangential surface, the light lines show up as undulating streaks, like waves on the water. The texture is coarse and the grain is straight to slightly wavy