Rain tree is an attractive, large, spreading deciduous tree with a low, dense, dome-shaped crown; usually growing up to 30 metres tall with occasional specimens to 60 metres. It has a short, usually crooked bole that can be up to 200cm in diameter. Trees can be evergreen in humid climates.

A multipurpose tree, it is often cultivated for its many uses. It is particularly valued for its timber, but also supplies food, medicines and a gum. It is one of the most commonly planted avenue and park trees in the tropics and is also commonly grown as a shade tree for other crops.

Children eat the pods, which contain a brownish, sticky, liquorice-like, sweet-flavoured pulp. A lemon-like fruit drink is also made from the pulp. The pods are more or less straight with conspicuously thickened edges, 12 - 20cm long, 1 - 2cm wide and 1.2cm thick.

The tree yields a gum of inferior quality which could be used as a poor man's substitute for gum arabic.

A decoction of the inner bark and fresh leaves is used as a treatment for diarrhoea.

A brew of small sections of the bark is taken to treat stomach-ache.

A crude aqueous or alcoholic extract of the leaves is observed to have an inhibiting effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The fraction of the leaves is effective on the CNS and PNS. An infusion of the leaves is used as a laxative.

The fruit decoction is used as a CNS-sedative.

The seeds are chewed for treating a sore throat.

Rain tree is an attractive, large, spreading deciduous tree with a low, dense, dome-shaped crown; usually growing up to 30 metres tall with occasional specimens to 60 metres. It has a short, usually crooked bole that can be up to 200cm in diameter. Trees can be evergreen in humid climates.

A multipurpose tree, it is often cultivated for its many uses. It is particularly valued for its timber, but also supplies food, medicines and a gum. It is one of the most commonly planted avenue and park trees in the tropics and is also commonly grown as a shade tree for other crops.

Children eat the pods, which contain a brownish, sticky, liquorice-like, sweet-flavoured pulp. A lemon-like fruit drink is also made from the pulp. The pods are more or less straight with conspicuously thickened edges, 12 - 20cm long, 1 - 2cm wide and 1.2cm thick.

The tree yields a gum of inferior quality which could be used as a poor man's substitute for gum arabic.

A decoction of the inner bark and fresh leaves is used as a treatment for diarrhoea.

A brew of small sections of the bark is taken to treat stomach-ache.

A crude aqueous or alcoholic extract of the leaves is observed to have an inhibiting effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The fraction of the leaves is effective on the CNS and PNS. An infusion of the leaves is used as a laxative.

The fruit decoction is used as a CNS-sedative.

The seeds are chewed for treating a sore throat.