Cobaea scandens, the cup-and-saucer vine, cathedral bells, Mexican ivy, or monastery bells, is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. It is native plant to Mexico, with isolated sightings elsewhere in tropical central and South America.
Description
It is a self-clinging perennial climber. The Latin specific epithet
scandens means 'climbing'.
The leaves comprise four leaflets and a tendril furnished with small hooks for clinging on to a support. The large forward-facing flowers open white, but become violet as they mature.
They are pollinated by bats in their native habitat, are bell-shaped with a pronounced ruff – hence the name cup-and-saucer. Mature flowers are scented. Present a capsular fruits with seeds.
Cultivation
It is widely cultivated for its twining habit and its highly ornamental flowers, long, which change from white to purple. In temperate regions it is best grown as a half-hardy
annual plant, sown in heat under glass in early spring, and planted out after all danger of frost is past.
Darwin's observations
Charles Darwin in 1875 made a detailed study of various climbing and twining plants, subjecting them to stimuli such as light and touch, and presenting them with a range of surfaces while minutely examining their movement over time. He was impressed by the exceptional strength and speed of Cobaea scandens:
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