Mollugo cerviana is an annual herb which usually grows throughout the year in open dry sandy and sandy-loamy soils, but also occurs in moist habitats, especially in cultivated lands. Haplothrips uses the flowers for breeding and feeding; the feeding activity affects pollination. The flowers have specialized floral structural and functional behaviours for self-induced and spontaneous autogamy while keeping the options open for insect pollination after anthesis; it is facultative autogamous which is reflected in pollen-ovule ratio and natural fruit and seed set rates. Seed dispersal modes include anemochory, ombrohydrochory and hydrochory.
