Monnina parasylvatica

Native to Central America, this scrambling shrub grows in moist tropical habitats. Slender stems may lean through neighbouring vegetation or trail across the ground. Purple to dark lilac flowers have a contrasting pale yellow keel and occur along elongated flower clusters. Although the blooms resemble pea flowers, the species belongs to the milkwort family, Polygalaceae. In Costa Rica, it is common in open areas and disturbed or secondary forest. Its dark purple fruits are rounded, and its leaves feed caterpillars of the moth Dypterygia ordinarius. Photographed in Colombia.