Cobaea scandens

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, sown in heat under glass in early spring, and planted out after all danger of frost is past. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017). A white form exists, C. scandens f. alba. ==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: ==References==