 The trees play an important role in Taiwan's agricultural export economy with exports of NT$250 million (US$7 million) in 2005.However, many specimens in cultivation sold as "Pachira aquatica" are actually the similar species, "P. glabra", which develops a thick base at a younger age and has a smaller growth habit, less showy flowers, and a 6" green seed capsule rather than 12" brown seed capsule.The presence of cyclopropenoid fatty acids in the nuts has been used to state that the nuts are not edible and not suitable for human consumption, despite the nut being eaten or used in medicine.