Tabernaemontana holstii is indigenous to Uganda. An understorey forest tree, rarely in thickets and gallery forests. Common in Bugoma, Kibale and Mabira forests as well as in the Lake Victoria zone and in other medium altitude and lower mountain forests. Also found in Kigezi and the Ruwenzori Mountains up to 2,200 m. In Kampala, this tree can be found in Makerere II in zone C.

A very leafy shrub or tree 4-10 m high with a wavy trunk and a dense crown of dark green leaves.

BARK: thin, fairly smooth, grey-brown with large pale lenticel dots, darker and fissured with age, copious white latex if cut.

LEAVES: broadly oval, without a stalk, 11-32 cm long, stiff, with 9-21 lateral veins each side, tip pointed but blunt.

FLOWERS: white and fragrant in long loose heads, corolla tube twisted to 3 cm long and the petal lobes 3-4 cm, yellow in the throat and very hairy.

FRUIT: pairs of rounded fruit, green with white dots, about 10 cm across.

Medicine: Leaves,root bark, stem bark, and the latex. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.phpid=Tabernaemontana+pachysiphon, https://www.prota4u.org/database/protav8.asp g=pe&p=Tabernaemontana+pachysiphon+Stapf

The fiber from the bark is used to make cloth and small ropes are made from the inner bark.

The pulp of the pounded leaves is used to colour hair brown.

The wood is used to make knife sheaths, handles and combs.

The white latex used to adulterate the rubber obtained from Hevea brasiliensis.

The latex can be used to mend broken pots and calabashes.

Pollarded branches are used locally for firewood and to make charcoal.

An ornamental and shade tree.