Dolichandra unguis-cati (L.) L.G. Lohmann

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Photo: Bart Wursten
At ISPN campus

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Synonyms:	Bignonia tweediana Lindl. Bignonia unguis-cati L. Doxantha unguis-cati (L.) Rehder Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H. Gentry
Common names:	Cat's claw creeper (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Climber, sometimes ascending to great heights in trees, sometimes creeping along the ground. Underground tubers large. Leaves simple on lower growth but mainly 2-foliolate above; leaflets ovate to lanceolate. Tendrils 3-fid, curving like cat's claws. Flowers spectacular, but usually short-lived. Corolla yellow, 5-7 cm across the lobes. Fruit very long and narrow, 30-90 × 1-2 cm. Seeds 3-4 × 1 cm, winged.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	unguis-cati: from Latin, unguis, meaning claw and cati, a cat.
Habitat:	On trees in parks and gardens, mainly in urban areas; also in riverine fringe vegetation.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Sep - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Native to Central and South America; a cultivated plant or naturalised weed in other countries.
Mozambique distribution:
Growth form(s):	Climber, liane.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 1 January 2014
Literature:	Davies, H.F. (Undated). Alphabetical Catalogue of Plants growing in the gardens of Ewanrigg National Park, Arcturus. [Possibly not published (typed only)] Page 5. Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 62. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Dolichandra unguis-cati:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Dolichandra unguis-cati
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dolichandra unguis-cati
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Dolichandra unguis-cati

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dolichandra unguis-cati
African Plant Database: Dolichandra unguis-cati
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dolichandra unguis-cati
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dolichandra unguis-cati
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dolichandra unguis-cati
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dolichandra unguis-cati
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dolichandra unguis-cati
JSTOR Plant Science: Dolichandra unguis-cati
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dolichandra unguis-cati
Plants of the World Online: Dolichandra unguis-cati
Tropicos: Dolichandra unguis-cati
Wikipedia: Dolichandra unguis-cati