This widespread southeastern herbaceous vine generally occurs at field edges and along rights of way, and it is not clear what its original habitats were. It may have spread north after settlement. It was not listed for the Louisville area in McMurtrie (1819); and Rafinesque does not appear to have reported it from Ky. It was first listed for Ky. by Short et al. (1833). In 1914 Gm noted: "common plant in Kentucky, growing by waysides and along fences, wherever a strip is left without cultivation." The species has a complex ethno-pharmacology, involving indole alkaloids and diverse flavonoids (e.g. Soulimani et al. 1997). But there is little documentation of uses in Ky. Rafinesque (1828-30) noted: "Fruits of all [species] edible acid, a syrup made used in fevers cooling [sic]... Leaves used topically and juice given to dogs to cure the staggers or Epilepsy." A white-flowered form named "alba" is sometimes cultivated (missouribotanical garden.org/).