Dolichandra unguis-cati is a liana with semipersistent foliage and woody stems that can reach a height of 30 metres (98 ft).

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 grows in orchards and gardens, roadsides and grasslands, in open urban areas, especially in temperate to subtropical regions with medium to high rainfall.

[4] 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.

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.

Furthermore, being anti-inflammatory, it has been used for the treatment of intestinal ailments, venereal disease, rheumatism, dysentery, malaria and oliguria.