The tree can grow up to 30m in height with an umbrella shaped crown which spreads widely (20-30m across). The bark is dark brown, rough and flaky in mature specimens. The leaves are twice pinnate compound. Small clusters of flowers are pinkish or whitish and slightly fragrant. The fruit pods are thick, long, straight and fleshy inside. The pods ripen black and do not split open. The seeds readily germinate into seedlings and sometimes while still inside the fruit. Epiphytes like ferns and orchids tend to perch on old Rain Trees.

The leaves of the Rain Trees fold up in the evenings, which is why the Malays called it 'Pukul Lima', which means 5 o'clock. This was because 5pm used to be closer to the sunset hour in Singapore and Malaysia before changes to Standard Time were made on 1 Jan 1982. Notably, the leaflets began to close about one and a half hours before sunset to open at about the same time after sunrise. The leaflets also close during the day when the sky is overcast, thus giving rise to the name, Rain Tree. This Tropical American species was dispersed throughout the tropics since the middle of the 1900s. It was introduced to Singapore in 1876 and spread throughout the region. Due to its excellent shade, the species was planted in the 1900s in coffee and nutmeg plantations and along roadsides. The sweetish fruit pulp was relished by cattles, goats, horses, pigs and even children in some countries.