Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subtribe: Phaseolinae
Genus: Cochliasanthus (it is the only member)
Species: C. caracalla
Binomial name: Cochliasanthus caracalla
Synonyms: Vigna cochliasanthus, Phaseolus caracallae, Vigna caracalla
Common names: Snail Creeper, Corkscrew vine, Snail vine, Snailflower, Snail bean, Shell vine, Caracalla Bean
Cochliasanthus caracalla is a perennial, leguminous, vigorous climbing vine originates in tropical South and Central America. It grows from a tuberous root. The bean-like, trifoliate leaves are a dark green.
Cochliasanthus caracalla produces large clusters of highly perfumed white and lavender coiling buds and flowers that fade to a creamy yellow just before dropping. The flowers a fragrance is similar to a hyacinth. This plant does not attract snails, the common names refers to the corkscrew-shaped flowers that look like curly snail shells.
Long bean-like pods develop in autumn.
Cochliasanthus caracalla can be deciduous in colder areas, losing its leaves in August for about 3 months.
Cochliasanthus Caracalla is sometimes confused with Phaseolus giganteus which has non-fragrant flowers.
The snail shaped flowers.
The bean shape fruit.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
