The genus Cassine occurs in Africa, Madagascar and nearby archipelagos, although paradoxically the name of this genus comes from the name given by the Timucua Indians (Florida) to a drink made from the leaves of Ilex vomitoria, a species similar to I. cassine. C. orientalis is native to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands archipelago (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues), which is probably the origin of its specific epithet orientalis. The name "false olive tree" is due to its fruit, a drupe similar to an olive.

It is a tropical species, which does not tolerate cold climates, a certain humidity and plenty of light. It is not uncommon for it to be used as a houseplant (in young specimens the leaves are narrower, with a smooth margin and a reddish midrib). It has been intensively exploited for its reddish wood, which, together with its slow growth, makes it difficult to find specimens of significant size in the wild (it is generally found as a shrub, although it can grow up to 20 m).