Bignoniaceae Macfadenya unguis-cati (L.) A.Gentry

| |	© W.D. Hawthorne

Keywords in this picture :

• Foliage
• Climber
• Node
• Habit
• Thorn
• Vegetative
• Spines prickles etc
• Stem
• Plant parts
• Climbing device

Places where this species can be found :

• Morne Gazo - GRENADA

Species information

Description
2 leaflets per leaf, sometimes with 3-branched, claw-like tendrils. Lvs with scales, often black when dried. Stem cylindrical with many lenticels; pseudostipules in leaf axils; Small panicles 11-3 flowered. Corolla glabrous outside, yellow with orange-red lines in throat, 4-8 cm long; lobes 2-4cm, the upper two folded back slightly. Capslues 24-95 cm long x 1-1.5cm, scaly, linear, slightly woody, covered with dotlike scales. Glands between petioles.

Interest
common and latin names are a reference to the hooked tendrils, a unique feature in the Bignoniaceae. Macfadyena unguis-cati A. Gentry (syns Doxantha unguis-cati Rehder, Bignonia unguis-cati L.) Cat's Claw Creeper A preparation from this species has been used to treat manchineel (Hippomane mancinella L., fam. Euphorbiaceae) dermatitis (Standley 1926, Lewis & Elvin-Lewis 1977). Lewis WH and Elvin-Lewis MPF (1977) Medical Botany. Plants affecting man's health. New York: John Wiley.

Specimen information

Collector
W.D. Hawthorne, D.Jules

Specimen Number
741

Location
Mt. Gazo forest reserve.

Notes
Climber on stem of tree; complicated leaf/tendril arrangement.

Coordinates
Latitude: 12.020000 N   Longitude: 61.430000 W   Altitude: 0.0