Garcinia atroviridis is a large rainforest tree, native to Malaysia, India, Myanmar and Indo-China. In Peninsular Malaysia, this species grows wild in lowland and hill forest to 600 m altitude but is also widely cultivated for its economic and medicinal value.

This species grows to 25 m tall. It has a trunk fluted at the base with dull grey, cracked and fissured bark and drooping branches. The tree produces a little transparent or yellow sap from the inner bark. Leaves on young shoots are reddish, and then become dark glossy green when mature. The laminas are narrowly oblong, pointed at the tip and abruptly tapered at the base. It is a dioecious tree with unisexual flowers. The female flowers are borne solitary and are reddish, large and sometimes faintly fragrant. In contrast, male flowers are borne in terminal clusters. The male flowers are uncommon with most trees being female because female trees are selected for planting in the villages due to their use. The fruits are juicy, round, about 7 to 10 cm in diameter and fluted with 12 to 16 ribs and grooves. It turns orange-yellow when ripe with the large brownish disc-like stigma persistent at the tip. The seeds are a bright orange colour.