Published in Gray, A. (1849). In: Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts Ser. 2, 4(1): 13, Nom. Inval. Nom. Subnud.
The native range of this species is Mexico to S. Tropical America, Tropical & S. Africa. It is an annual or perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, has environmental uses and social uses, as animal food and a medicine and for food.