This plant is native to the tropical dry forest of
Central America,
South America (Mexico to Brazil and northern Argentina) and the
Caribbean. In these natural areas it occurs from sea level to over above sea level and where the rainfall is per year. It can become invasive due to its fast growth and it is present worldwide, often having been introduced as an ornamental plant to these regions. It can affect all layers of plants of forest ecosystems by rapidly spreading both vertically and horizontally. It prefers fertile, well-drained soils but can survive in most soils except salty ones. It tolerates the lack of light well, but grows faster in the sun. It is naturalised in Australia, southeastern US, southern Africa, tropical Asia. It grows in orchards and gardens, roadsides and grasslands, in open urban areas, especially in temperate to subtropical regions with medium to high rainfall. It spreads both horizontally, in contact with herbaceous plants, and vertically, up to the
canopy.
Invasiveness The eradication of this plant is difficult because of its rapid spread linked to the vast
root system it develops and the profusion of its seeds. It survives grazing and
wildfire, and disturbances tend to stimulate offspring production. The plant is said to be "one of the most destructive exotic vines", where it is especially aggressive in
riparian zones and rainforest communities where it strangles trees. ==Medicinal use==