Flagellaria indica is a climbing plant found in many of the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, in India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia.
A strong climber, it grows often up to tall, with thick cane-like stems exceeding in diameter. Its leaves, without hairs, are long, and wide, with a coiled apical tendril which forms the holding part of the climbing plant. Fragrant white flowers form in panicles, long. The fruit is inedible. The globose drupes are red when mature,</ref > in diameter, usually with only one seed.
Because of its wide distribution, many local common names are used, such as whip vine, hell tail, supplejack, false rattan, and bush cane.