This tree is one of several species in the family Fabaceae that form monodominant stands in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, either singly, or in conjunction with Brachystegia laurentii, Cynometra alexandri, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei or Julbernardia seretii. In 1983, it occurred throughout the Congo Basin. In the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, between about , it was co-dominant with Staudtia stipitata and Julbernardia seretii, and was abundant at higher elevations. However it has become much rarer and is no longer plentiful in its previous habitats.