Macfadyena unguis-cati

Cat's Claw Creeper, Cat's Claw Vine, Yellow Trumpet Vine

Message of the Flower

Supramental Influence

The Mother’s Comment

Innumerable and rapid in its action.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

The Supramental by its very definition is Truth Consciousness, Truth in possession of itself and fulfilling itself by its own power.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Descent and Transformation

The Supermind is in its very essence a truth-consciousness, a consciousness always free from the Ignorance which is the foundation of our present natural or evolutionary existence and from which nature in us is trying to arrive at self-knowledge and world-knowledge and a right consciousness and the right use of our existence in the universe. The Supermind, because it is a truth-consciousness, has this knowledge inherent in it and this power of true existence; its course is straight and can go direct to its aim, its field is wide and can even be made illimitable. This is because its very nature is knowledge: it has not to acquire knowledge but possesses it in its own right…

Sri Aurobindo, Essays in Philosophy and Yoga: Supermind and the Life Divine

Colour

Yellow, sometimes with a reddish throat.

Family

Bignoniaceae

Cultivars

Not widely known for cultivars.

Person who named the flower

(L.) A.H. Gentry

Flower Size

About 2-3 inches across.

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Five, fused to form a tube.

Floral Symmetry

Bilaterally symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant.

Leaf Texture

Rough, with claw-like tendrils.

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Dark Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Climbing vine.

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Spring and summer.

Climate

Prefers tropical to subtropical climates.

Water Requirements

Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.

Soil Type

Adaptable to a variety of soil types.

Temperature Ranges

Frost-sensitive; thrives in warm environments.

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Can be susceptible to common pests like aphids and diseases like leaf spot.

Pollinators

Attracts bees and other pollinating insects.

Habitat

Native to Central and South America; invasive in other regions.

Role in the Ecosystem

Can be invasive, often outcompeting native vegetation.

Ornamental

Grown for its showy flowers and as a cover plant.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mostly ornamental.

Endangered Status

Not endangered, but considered invasive in some regions.