Dioclea virgata

Native from southeastern Mexico through Central America and tropical South America, it is a climbing shrub found in open areas and along forest edges. Its compound leaves have three oval to obovate leaflets, usually with pointed tips and variable hairiness beneath. Long, slender flowering clusters bear dark purple, pea-shaped flowers. The broad standard petal has a darker patch above a paler central area. Flattened, slightly curved seed pods are covered with stiff, rusty-colored hairs. They split open to release hard, flattened, reddish-brown seeds. Photographed in Panama.