Mansoa alliacea

Native to the Lesser Antilles and tropical South America, this perennial woody climbing vine grows in wet tropical habitats. Its opposite leaves have two broad, elliptical leaflets and a tendril that branches into three tips, helping it grasp nearby supports. The leaves give off a garlic-like smell when crushed. Clusters of purple, trumpet-shaped flowers make it a popular ornamental for fences, trellises and pergolas. It also has a history of traditional medicinal use in Amazonian communities. Photographed in Colombia.