Habit Ateleia popenoei grows as a medium shrub to small tree up to 6 m. in height, usually smaller. Young stems gray with erect, projecting pubescence and obvious lenticels. The odd pinnately compound leaves are alternately (sometimes suboppositely) arranged. There are 5-11 leaflets, each orbicular to ovate to lanceolate, up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide, with an obtuse to acute leaflet apex, an oblique leaf base, with an entire margin.
The zygomorphic flowers are arranged in axillary racemes. The calyx has 5 greenish, fused, sepals. The white corolla is reduced to a single white cup shaped petal forming the standard. There are 10 subequal, exserted stamens. The ovary is superior and forms a dry slightly inflated single seeded legume at maturity.
Habitat: Ateleia popenoei grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations – Forests/Shrublands (coppice).
Distribution: Ateleia popenoei is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago and only known to exist on Great Exuma.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Ateleia popenoei is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.