It is known by its common names Malabar chestnut, French peanut, Guiana chestnut, Provision tree, Saba nut, Monguba (Brazil), Pumpo (Guatemala) and Jelinjoche (Costa Rica) and is commercially sold under the names Money tree and Money plant.

The transitional and long-stalked, composite hand-shaped, slightly leathery leaves are arranged at the branch ends.

[4][5] Its showy flowers, said to have the fragrance of lilacs,[6] have long, narrow petals that open like a banana peel to reveal hairlike yellowish orange stamens.

The greenish-yellow or cream-colored, hermaphroditic and very large, short and thick-stalked flowers with double perianth resemble shaving brushes through the long stamens.

The approximately 180–250 stamens, deep pink at the top and yellow at the base,[7]with elongated anthers are overgrown and tufted above.

[12] The tree grows well as a tropical ornamental in moist, frost-free areas, and can be started from seed or cutting.

When grown indoors it requires a very gradual introduction to direct sunlight outdoors to reduce the chances of sunburning its leaves.

[15] The nuts are light brown, striped with white, about 2–3 cm long, and embedded in a spongy and fibrous pericarp.

The surviving rat had enlarged organs including the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs and also had spleen atrophy.

[4] Research on the health effects of eating the nuts on humans is lacking, but there are some studies regarding nutritional facts and food utilization.

[18][19][20][5] Pachira aquatica has been shown to improve indoor air quality by the reduction of volatile organic compounds.

[22] Pachira aquatica was shown to reduce VOCs when coupled with Ficus benjamina and Aglaonema commutatum.

[23] In East Asia, Pachira aquatica (Chinese: 馬拉巴栗; pinyin: Mǎlābā lì; lit.

In 1986, a Taiwanese truck driver first cultivated five small trees in a single flowerpot with their trunks braided.

They are symbolically associated with good financial fortune and are typically seen in businesses, sometimes with red ribbons or other ornamentation attached.