Schizolobium parahyba is a widespread pioneer species from tropical and pre-montane forests zones of the American Atlantic coast, flourishing on well drained moist soils on plains or hillsides. The species name likely refers to the Paraiba River in South east Brazil. The numerous bright yellow nectar producing flowers, about 3.5 cm in diameter, bloom from October through December in the Southern Hemisphere, after the leaves have fallen off. In Kampala, this tree can be found along Apollo Kaggwa road, Elgon terrace within Makerere University, Sheraton gardens among other places.

Schizolobium parahyba is a deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, flat-topped crown. The tree is unarmed, with a cylindrical bole, high buttresses and a wide spreading, open crown. A mature tree has a straight trunk up to 40 meters tall and 80 cm wide, that branches out only near the top, and young trees are characterized by non-branching and topped by distinctive fern tree-like crown. Leaves are shed before flowering occurs.

BARK: smooth and grey-green except by the scars left by fallen leaves. Bark of a young S. parahybum tree is typically smooth green and that of an older S. parahybum tree is typically whitish grey.

LEAVES: bi-pinnatea meter or more in length, with a green stem and 30–50 opposite pinnae, each with 40–60 leaflets 2–3 cm long; they are clustered near the end of the branches, and fall off completely in the dry season. Young individuals, often unbranched and with leaves over 2 meters long, may be mistaken for ferns or palms.

FLOWERS: golden yellow, large, profusely produced in axillary semi-erect racemes or terminal panicles; bracts minute; bracteoles absent; calyx tube obliquely turbinate; lobes 5, overlapping, reflexed at flowering; petals 5, clawed, sub equal, overlapping, uppermost petal innermost; stamens 10, free, subdeclinate; filaments villous, basally rough; anthers uniform, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary sub sessile affixed to 1 side of calyx tube, many-ovules, style filiform; stigma minute, terminal.

FRUIT: pod flat, spoon or tear-drop explosive pods, 8-12 cm long, turn black and crack open when mature to release single oval flattened seed,exocarp firm, leathery, tardily dehiscent. The seed is large, oblong, compressed, located near apex.

Agroforestry: an excellent choice for restoring land to forest and for establishing woodland gardens, can be used as a shade tree in coffee plantation, the tree protects surrounding soil from soil erosion, the enormous amount of biomass shed by the tree improves soil fertility.

The seeds are used to make buttons and beads.

Provides timber which is used in native huts, canoes, and cheap furniture, for the insides of doors and panels, toys, soles of shoes, boxes etc.

The wood can be used for fuel.

Methyl methacrylate (a plastic monomer) and S. parahybum wood are used in manufacture of woodplastic composites.

An ornamental tree and provides shade.