Its major negative impact is its improper occurrence in historically accurate landscapes. It is probably a native of tropical Asia, but is widely planted throughout the tropics as a shade tree and ornamental. Its range extends to Bermuda and the West Indies, Central America, and south to Brazil. The bark is gray, and smooth but becomes rough as the tree ages. They usually occur in large numbers.
Pods remain on the tree for some time after the seeds and leaves have fallen.
The sound of the empty pods rattling in the wind gives the tree its common name of woman's tongue. This species propagates readily from seed and has established in pastures and on hillsides in dry coastal regions. This species is highly tolerant of salt spray but is intolerant of cold temperatures. This species is a weed in many tropical and subtropical countries and is found in the United States in Hawaii. This species possesses a strong root system that often becomes woody at the base.