Climate

The plant is distributed in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa. It grows wild in wet, humid or shaded forest ecosystems of south India. It is also cultivated as an intercrop with other commercial crops.

Soil

Moist loamy soil is suitable for the crop. The crop can also be cultivated in laterite soil with heavy application of organic manure.

Season

The optimum time of planting is with the receipt of four or five pre-monsoon showers in May-June.