Published in Pruski. (n.d.). In: Fl. St. John (Mem. New York Bot. Gard., 78): 114 (17 Dec. 1996); Et in Novon 6(4): 412 (27 Dec. 1996).
The native range of this species is Mexico to S. Tropical America and Trinidad. It is a subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as a poison and a medicine and has environmental uses.