[6][7] The tree grows to 35 metres (115 feet) tall, with an upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal branches.

[8] They fall during the dry season; they turn pinkish-reddish or yellow-brown, due to pigments such as violaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Both are produced on axillary or terminal spikes, they are 1 cm (3⁄8 in) in diameter, white to greenish, and inconspicuous with no petals.

It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to northern Australia and New Guinea through southeast Asia and Micronesia into the Indian subcontinent.

Until the mid-20th century, the tree had been used extensively in Brazilian urban landscaping, since being a rare case tropical deciduous, their fallen leaves would give a "European" flair to the street.

When ripe, the seeds are edible raw or cooked[11] and are the source of its 'almond' common names, but are small and difficult to extract.