It inhabits the dry jungles of southern Mexico to Central America from sea level to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) elevation.

Leaves with 5–7 elliptic to oblong lobes, acuminate, nearly entire to serrate, glabrous or pubescent on the underside.

Capsule suberect to hanging, broadly ovate to obovate umbilicate, outer valve dark brown, gray or greenish, velvety or glabrous, inner valve ochre to cream, glabrous; seeds kidney-shaped with white gossypinous trichomes.

On some occasions, it is recommended to pour water into a small canoe made with the wood of this tree and let it rest overnight to then drink it.

For the same purpose, it is used in Sonora and in the State of Mexico, where jaundice is recognized as "yellow spots by biliary infection."

Other medicinal uses given to this plant are against diarrhea, liver diseases, and generally to stop postpartum and nasal hemorrhages, against pimples, and ulcers.