The Zigzag Plant is a succulent native to Florida (USA), Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and most of the Caribbean islands. This species has also been introduced to Africa, Asia, Hawaii (USA), and a small number of islands in Oceania and the Caribbean. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and often grown as a hedge plant. In some areas, the Zigzag Plant can be planted for the purpose of reclaiming toxic soil. Its sap can cause irritation, and the roots, stems, and leaves are poisonous if ingested, so caution is required in its use. The Zigzag Plant is also one of the plants that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, including for treating traumatic injuries and bone fractures.

The Zigzag Plant can be found growing in various habitats including dry scrub, coastal savannas, deserts, hillsides, along roadsides in rocky soil, at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 1,200 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.). This plant prefers dry and sunny conditions, but can tolerate moderate shade. The Zigzag Plant is adaptable to grow in almost any soil type with a soil pH between 6.1–7.8, and requires good drainage. Its growth prefers areas with an average annual rainfall ranging between 700–1,800 mm/year and is highly tolerant of drought.

• Root (Akar) Taproot with few branches, many small lateral roots, light brown color. The outer roots are smooth and slightly aromatic.

• Stem (Batang) Sturdy, erect, succulent, round, slightly fleshy, very flexible, glabrous or pubescent when young, green color, has a zigzag shape, exudes a milky sap when broken, and is slightly aromatic.

• Leaves (Daun) Ovate or oblong-ovate, fleshy. Both surfaces are pubescent, glabrous, smooth, and shiny. The base is rounded or blunt, the apex is tapering (meruncing), the margin is entire to slightly wavy, with pinnate venation. Leaves are arranged alternately with one leaf per node along the stem on alternating sides.

• Flower (Bunga) Red, bird-shaped, clustered at the tip of the stem. Each cyathium (a flower structure containing separate male and female parts) is supported by a stalk 3–8 mm long. Cyathia are bilaterally symmetrical, odorless. The tube is reddish-green below. The female flower is inserted in the middle of the involucre (bracts), tilted, emerging from the involucre. The involucre is shoe-shaped, deep red or purplish-red, equal-sided, glabrous, the apex is almost labia-shaped, the small lobes are oblong, 3-toothed at the apex, the other lobes are boat-shaped.

• Fruit (Buah) Capsule, cube-shaped with a truncated apex, 3-lobed deeply inside.

• Seed (Biji) Gray-brown color, somewhat sub-globose (roundish) shape.

• Propagation is done generatively (seeds) and vegetatively (stem cutting root development).

• Treats traumatic injuries and fractures, heals wounds, boils, ulcers/sores, antidote for insect or centipede bites, asthma, swelling and redness of the eyes, persistent cough, sore throat, canker sores (stomatitis), venereal diseases, earache, swelling, calluses, warts, ringworm, skin cancer, toothache, and umbilical hernia (pusar bodong). It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, antituberculosis, antifungal, and antibacterial activities.

• Euphorbol, beta-sitosterol, dammaronol A, dotriacontan-1-ol, friedelanol, hentriacontan-1-ol, cycloartenone, octacosanol, oxime, steroids, cardiac glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside-6'- (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate), quercitrin, isoquercitrin, scopoletin, tannins, triterpenes, coumarins, saponins, ursolic acid, luteolin, azafrin, and phenolic compounds.