Plumbago zeylanica

A scrambling shrub native across tropical and subtropical regions, it belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family. Its wiry, usually woody stems bear smooth leaves that range from egg-shaped to narrowly oval. The fragrant white flowers have long, slender tubes and broaden into spreading lobes. Stiff, stalked glands cover the ribbed calyces surrounding the bases of the flowers. The species occurs in woodland, grassland, and scrub, often beside rivers or lakes. The sticky seed capsules attach to passing animals, helping spread the seeds. Its foliage also feeds several species of blue butterfly caterpillars. Contact with the plant can irritate the skin. Photographed in the department of Atlántico, Colombia.