 The primary range is in the southeastern United States (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), through Argentina, growing where the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.It has been introduced to similar locations around the world, including Hawaii and Australia.The plant consists of one or more slender stems bearing alternate thin, curved or curly, heavily scaled leaves long and broad, that grow vegetatively in chain-like fashion (pendant), forming hanging structures up to  in length.