Cyclanthera carthagenensis

Native to Cuba and from Mexico through Central America into tropical South America, it is a vine that climbs with tendrils. Its broadly oval to heart-shaped leaves may have three to five shallow lobes and toothed margins. Male and female flowers occur separately on the same plant: male flowers form stalked clusters, while female flowers are solitary. The flowers have a long, narrow tube ending in five spreading, star-shaped lobes. Small green fruits are asymmetrical and covered with soft spines. They split open explosively along their length to release flattened seeds. It grows in disturbed, moist vegetation and forest margins. Photographed in Atlántico, Colombia.