It is endemic on Indian Subcontinent: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indo-China: Myanmar.

Its habitat includes the dry parts of the Gangetic plain, down through the Vindhya range, to Deccan thorn scrub forests South India.

It is known from Pakistan and Bangladesh to the Gangetic plains, south to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana.

It is found in Rayalaseema, central and eastern parts of Karnataka and south to Tamil Nadu, west to rainshadow regions around Palakkad and Punalur.

The juice of the leaves is especially used to cure gonorrhoea (Tamil: வெண்மேகம் (věṇmēkam)).