Tree up to 20 m, with thick conical spines up to 5.5 cm; branches may be spiny; leaves 1-3.5 cm, leaflets 5-15, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, obovate, elliptic, or ovate, 3-13 cm, shortly acuminate or pointed, rounded or emarginate at apex, obliquely rounded or pointed at base, with hair on midrib, sunken, slighly revolute, petiole and rachis sometimes needly; inflorescence 0.6-1.5 cm; male flowers with 5 carpels; gynoecium obovoid, with 5 carpels; with follicles, joined on lower part, 4-6 mm. Common names: ayúa, ayúa macho, ayuda. Species very easy to identify due to large conical spines on trunk.