Dolichandra unguis-cati (Cat’s Claw Creeper)

Native from Mexico through tropical America, this woody climbing vine has tuberous roots. Its opposite leaves usually have two leaflets and a terminal tendril divided into three curved claws, which help it grip supports. Bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers open into five lobes. Long, flattened seed capsules contain thin, winged seeds that disperse in the wind. The vine has escaped cultivation in many regions and is invasive in Florida and Australia, where dense growth can smother native vegetation. Its underground tubers allow it to regrow after the stems are removed. Photographed in the department of Atlántico, Colombia.