Tribe Bignonieae Scientific name Dolichandra unguis-cati Rank Species | Genus Dolichandra Higher classification Dolichandra | |
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Similar Macfadyena, Dolichandra, Bignoniaceae, Bignonia, Merremia dissecta | ||
Cat s claw vine dolichandra unguis cati
Dolichandra unguis-cati, commonly known as cats claw creeper, funnel creeper, or cat's claw trumpet, is a rapidly growing climbing vine belonging to the family Bignoniaceae.
Contents
Description
Dolichandra unguis-cati has semipersistent foliage. Stems are woody and can reach 20 meters. Thin and small aerial roots are used for climbing. Leaves are dark green, opposite and bifoliate. Leaflets have a length of 3 to 4 cm. The plant produces flowers during the wet season. Flowers are yellow, have a diameter of 4 to 5 cm and can grow alone or in groups of 2 or 3. Long primary roots extend beneath the soil surface, producing large tubers 40–50 centimetres long. Fruits are brown flattened capsules from 25 to 95 cm long. Each capsule contains 100 to 200 seeds.
Distribution and habitat
This plant is native to the tropical dry forest of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In these natural areas it occurs from sea level to over 600 meters above sea level and where the rainfall is 750 to 2400 mm per year. It can become invasive and it is present worldwide. It can affect all layers of plants of forest ecosystems by rapidly spreading both vertically and horizontally.
