[1] The species name honors Brazilian botanist Othon Xavier de Brito Machado.

[3] The leaves (which are reddish when young) are smooth and obovate, measuring about 15 by 10 cm, with 4 to 8 mm long stalks.

[1] The small pink flowers (4 to 8 mm) are gathered in panicles about 20 cm wide,[3] and are pollinated by bees and wasps.

The fruit's skin contains a strongly irritating oil composed mostly of anacardic acid, cardol, cardanol and other aromatic compounds.

The tea from its bark or leaves is used in the local folk medicine against diarrhea[5][full citation needed] and as gargle for throat infections.