This quick growing deciduous tree originally from Central America grows readily from cuttings and has been used as living fence posts. It benefits from being pruned. The compound leaves to about 30 cm long have 11-15 leaflets. The pea-shaped flowers are borne in racemes towards the end of the branches; petals are pink to lilac. Pods are up to 15 x 2 cm, dehiscence is explosive, seeds are dark brown. The bark has been used as a fish poison.