In Asia, it occurs in India, Java, Malaysia, the Philippines, China and the Ryukyu Islands.

As an adventive species Boerhavia erecta is not widely regarded as a serious weed or invasive threat; in fact its physical and pharmacological attributes suggest that it is potentially useful.

[2] Boerhavia erecta plants can survive considerable damage from grazing and fire because their stems produce perennating buds near the ground surface.

In colour they are green, commonly tinted with purple, and towards their upper regions they are slightly pubescent, being covered in short, soft hairs.

The ripe fruits of this plant are sticky and adapted to dispersal by humans and animals.

B. erecta readily invades various environments such as bush, wasteland, agricultural land, and roadsides.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is working with countries such as Bangladesh to encourage the species, and its pharmacology is under study.