The species is distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, Australia and Pacific islands. It grows in almost any habitat, and there are no known threats. The plant has been assessed as Least Concern.

The species is distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia (China, Afghanistan, Japan; Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Viet Nam, and Singapore), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), New Zealand, and the Pacific islands, including Samoa, New Caledonia, and Fiji. In China, the species is known from southern and central provinces (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Yunnan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan), and from Taiwan, Province of China (Sharma et al. 1984, Henry et al. 1987, Verm et al. 1993, Almeida 1996, Cook 1996, Pullaiah and Ali 1997, Mathew 1999, eFlora 2011).

The species is a commonly seen species, but specific population data is unknown.

It is an annual plant, seen in a wide range of habitats, including growing in wet places, marshy banks, sometimes found submerged in shallow water and rice fields. It can inhabit waste grounds and roadsides. The plant grows almost all types of soil, in any habitat.

This species is wide spread and can be found growing in almost any habitat. There are no known threats.

It is used in medicine in treating a variety of respiratory conditions. It is used for colds and acute and chronic allergies.

Conservation actions are not known or needed for this species.