Boarwood is indigenous to Uganda. A very conspicuous tree emerging above the rain-forest canopy. It occurs from Sierra Leone to Zambia and in south and central tropical America. In the Central Region of Uganda, the species is found along water courses and on margins of swamp forests. It is also abundant in a number of forests in the Western Region and in the Ruwenzori mountains where it occurs in dense groups. In Kampala, Boarwood can be found along Colville street, Katonga road, Nakasero hill road, within Makerere University among other places.

A tall evergreen tree 15-40 m, the small crown emergent and conspicuous in flower, flat topped to rounded. The bole may be clear for 5-21 m and occasionally there are stilt roots at the base in swampy ground. Branches are horizontal, slender and whorled, the longer ones curving upwards, while branchlets are drooping.

BARK: very thin and smooth, grey-yellow to pale brown with raised lenticel pimples, some reddish streaks or shallow vertical grooves. When cut, sticky bright orange-yellow latex comes out.

LEAVES: opposite, very dark shiny green, stiff and lathery, long oval about 12 cm long, tip pointed, narrowed to a short stalk, many veins clear below.

FLOWERS: bright deep red, waxy, grouped in heads of 6-8 on short upright side branches on the older wood, each flower about 1 cm across on a stalk 1-2 cm, growing longer in fruit, the 5 overlapping petals curve inwards and downwards, 5 green stigma and stamens in the centre. Petals fall quickly.

FRUIT: a berry about 2.5 cm across, topped by the persistent stigmas, green or red, to 4 cm long; 1-2 brown seeds are oval and flat, about 2x1 cm.

Medicine: bark, roots, resin, latex, and sap from the leaves. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Symphonia+globulifera

The bark and fruit contain a yellowish resin which is used in some regions for caulking boats.

The resin is used for making candles and torches.

A latex obtained from the bark is used as wax.

The resin yields an ammonia-soluble khaki dye.

The latex is hardened, burnt and the ash is used as paint.

The wood is used for construction, flooring, panelling, carpentry, crates and boxes, railway sleepers etc.

The wood is used for fuel.

Can be used as an ornamental tree.

Provides shade

Agroforestry: used in soil and water conservation.