As many of the species of the genus, it has stinging hairs, similar to those of nettles.

The species is distributed from Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina, and in Central Africa.

[3] The methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins.

Avicularin, quercitrin, afzelin and amentoflavone were isolated and identified from the extract.

[4] Partitions of the aqueous extract of T. volubilis reduce the activity of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin.