Machaerium scleroxylon is a deciduous tree characterized by a spiny nature and a compact, vase-shaped crown, and has the potential to reach heights of 15 to 25 m. The trunk, featuring grooves and often branching at a low level, can attain a diameter of 50 to 90 cm.

It also serves as a valuable pioneer species in woodland restoration and is commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes, prized for its attractive bark and delicate leaves.

The species holds particular interest for street planting due to the spines on young trunks acting as a deterrent against vandalism.

It thrives in semideciduous forests, adapting to both dense primary formations and more open, secondary growth areas, while it shows a preference for clayey, fertile soils with good drainage.

[6] Pau ferro, used as a rosewood substitute, is a strong sensitizer capable of causing acute outbreaks of allergic and irritant dermatitis in workers not previously exposed to it.