[4] They can float in seawater and are propagated by ocean currents, this bush is a pioneer plant in new sandbanks in tropical areas.

The earliest name now recognized as applying to the eastern species, Lobelia taccada, was published by Joseph Gaertner in 1788.

[10] Separately, and later, Martin Vahl described Scaevola sericea in 1791, based on a specimen from Niue, a small island in the south Pacific Ocean.

[11] In 1980, Jeffrey argued that the correct name for the species was Scaevola sericea, since Roxburgh's transfer was not acceptable under the nomenclature code.

[10] The species is found in coastal areas and beaches of Okinawa, Taiwan, Southern China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor, Northern Australia, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, East Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Oman, Yemen, India, Maldives, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Chagos Islands, Comoros, and Réunion.

It grows within the salt spray area and it is amongst the first pioneer plant colonisers on tropical atolls and sandbanks.

S. taccada trees provide a safe and shady environment for female green turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs.

[16] Drops from the plant were used in cases of eye irritation by Chamorro breath-hold spearfishermen in the Mariana Islands.