The plant grows in secondary formation in Southeast Asia. On the slopes of the volcano
Nglanggeran,
Gunung Kidul Regency, Indonesia, the shrub dominates forests on dry soils, and is commonly associated with
Ardisia javanica,
Pavetta species,
Melastoma malabathricum and
Psychotria species. The tree/treelet, as it is described, grows along the
Mekong river in
Kratie and
Steung Treng Provinces, Cambodia. Since then it has expanded to cover a considerable area and has traveled to the nearby island of
Praslin. It produces dense shade and the floral community associated with it has low diversity. The fauna community that inhabit the shrub-infested areas are mainly cosmopolitan taxa, the most abundant being the
Technomyrmex albipes-
Icerya seychellarum association (ants and coccoid bugs/scale insects, in the immature fruit). The shrub is a significant threat in degraded habitats. Several species of leaf-cutting bee in Singapore,
Megachile laticeps and
Megachile disjuncta, were observed collecting pollen from the plant. ==Vernacular names==