It is endemic to Bolivia, growing in dry, Andean valleys at altitudes of 2,000–2,500 m and 3,000–3,500 m and has been collected near the town of Cotagaita in Potosí Department.
The rebels were at first defeated at Cotagaita on 27 October and at Tupiza on 29 October, but collected their forces, and at Suipacha on 7 November they gained a complete victory, the royalist governor and the two royalist generals being made prisoners.