It is well known in many other places as an introduced species, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, several other Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and Florida in the United States.

[3] The flowers grow year round, and they tend to open in the early morning and close at about 11 a.m.[6] The plant is pollinated by a variety of insects.

A common pollinator is the bee species Protomeliturga turnerae which prefers only its nectar and depend completely on it for reproduction.

Other insects observed at the plant include many other bee species, such as Trigona spinipes, Frieseomelitta doederleinii, and Plebeia flavocinta, butterflies such as Nisoniades macarius and Urbanus dorantes, and the beetle Pristimerus calcaratus.

[11] In South America, its leaf extract is used to treat many conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, tumors, influenza, chronic pain and inflamation.

[11][13] It is mainly used in the northeastern region of Brazil, where it is also used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenrrhea, being consumed as tea or infusions.