It is native to the rainforests of Ecuador, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

[2] Annual growth is in the form of vigorous short shoots on which flowers and foliage develop before the old leaves are shed.

[2] The variety lutea differs from the nominate race in having obovate leaflets instead of elliptical ones.

The inflorescence is borne on the tip of the short shoots, there being separate male and female flowers.

The fruit is a three-chambered capsule which splits apart explosively to expel the seeds; these are kite-shaped and measure 21 by 18 mm (0.8 by 0.7 in).