Shifts in the earth's crust forced the coral above the surface of the ocean, and, as coral does not retain water, this little plant growing on the surfaced coral had to be extremely resistant to drought. Today it is one of the few plants that stays green in air-conditioned rooms.
由於地質抬升作用，墾丁珊瑚礁逐漸昇高露出海面，鵝掌藤隨之攀附在難以儲存雨水的高位珊瑚礁上生長，久而久之養成不畏乾旱的本領，成為少數在冷氣房裡依然綠意盎然的植物。