This multipurpose tree is used for fuel wood, lumber, animal fodder, and green manure. It's flowers are clustered on the end of branches in dense ball-like heads about 3/4 inch in diameter. Individual flowers are white, turning brown with maturity. It's seeds are dark brown seed pods are flat, roughly 4 to 6 inches long, with about 20 seeds. Seeds are glossy brown, oval, flat, 6 mm long. In Mexico young seed eaten in soups and also inside tacos, it is known as guaje.