Ipomoea neei (Morning Glory)

Native from Mexico through Central America to Panama, this perennial vine has woody, twining stems and heart-shaped to lobed leaves. Branched flower clusters carry numerous buds, although only a few flowers open at a time. The deeply lobed, bell-shaped corollas may be yellow or purple, with yellow forms sometimes marked by reddish purple bands. Long stamens project conspicuously beyond the flower mouth. Small capsules contain dark seeds with patches of yellowish hairs. The plant occurs along rivers, in swampy ground, and on volcanic slopes. Photographed in Panama.