This plant is widely distributed from the regions of South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines), extending to the regions of New Guinea, Australia, and the Pacific. In Indonesia, this plant is distributed on the islands of Java, Madura, and Sumatra. Traditionally, it has long been used by communities as a medicinal plant. It can also be cultivated as an ornamental plant.

It grows well in the lowlands up to 1,500 m a.s.l.. It grows wild in open places with sufficient sunlight or slight shade, and is not too dry.

• Root: Taproot, light brown.

• Stem: Round, jointed (beruas), rough surface, sympodial branching, diameter 2 cm, brown color.

• Leaves: Simple, alternate, with stipules (daun penumpu), and a widely winged petiole (tangkai daun bersayap). The leaf blade is lanceolate, with a pointed tip, a flat base, entire margins, and pinnate venation. Young leaves are brown, and mature leaves are green.

• Flowers: Compound (inflorescence), in a panicle, emerging from the stem tip. The corolla, composed of the sessile wings (daun duduk), is purplish-white and butterfly-shaped (papilionaceous).

• Fruit: Pod, green when young, brown when mature.

• Seeds: Kidney-shaped, light brown.

• Propagation is done generatively (by seed).

• Seeds are taken from healthy, large, and mature fruit, dried in the sun, and then sown in the nursery.

• It has activity as an antipyretic (fever reducer), anti-inflammatory (heals inflammation), parasiticide (kills parasites), stomachic (appetite enhancer), diuretic (promotes urine excretion), and treats acute kidney inflammation, acute hepatitis, and jaundice.

• Leaves: Tannins, alkaloids, hypaphorine, trigonelline, silicic acid.

• Fruit: Saponins, flavonoids.

• Root: Saponins, flavonoids, tannins.