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Dolichandra unguis-cati

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440279044888145797159
Scientific name Dolichandra unguis-cati
Authority (L.) L.G.Lohmann
First published in Nuevo Cat. Fl. Vasc. Venezuela : 273 (2008)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Dolichandra unguis‑cati is cultivated primarily as an ornamental climbing vine. Commercial horticulture supplies rooted cuttings, young potted plants, fully established vines, and hanging baskets for installation on walls, fences, arbors, trellises, and garden pergolas. Nurseries and online retailers in warm‑climate regions worldwide offer the species in 1‑liter to 5‑liter containers, sometimes pre‑trained on small trellis frames. It is prized for rapid twining growth, glossy evergreen foliage, and occasional clusters of small white tubular flowers that add seasonal visual interest.

Properties relevant to use:
The species thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9–11 and in comparable subtropical to tropical environments. It produces long, flexible stems bearing claw‑like tendrils that attach firmly to vertical supports without additional training. Leaves are opposite, 4–8 cm long, glossy, and remain evergreen, providing year‑round coverage. Under optimal conditions, the vine can add 1.5–3 m of height per growing season. It tolerates a range of well‑drained soils, from sandy loam to clay, and performs best in full sun to partial shade (4–6 h of direct light). Periodic pruning to 30–40 cm above ground in late winter encourages vigorous new shoots and maintains a manageable size. Moderate drought tolerance once established makes it suitable for low‑maintenance landscaping.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial production is entirely propagation‑based; nurseries generate new stock from stem cuttings of 10–15 cm or via tissue culture, eliminating reliance on wild harvest. Tissue‑cultured plantlets are used for mass propagation and to produce disease‑free mother plants. Container production employs recycled pots and water‑recirculation systems, minimizing resource use. Because the trade is based on cultivated material rather than wild collection, pressure on native populations is negligible, supporting a sustainable supply chain.

Standards and regulation:
International trade in ornamental cuttings, seedlings, and containerized plants of D. unguis‑cati is subject to the same plant‑health regulations that govern other horticultural species. In the United States, movement is regulated by the Plant Protection Act and associated USDA rules; in the European Union, the Plant Health Regulation (EU 2016/2031) governs import and export. Phytosanitary certification is required, confirming freedom from quarantine pests and diseases. The species is not listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), reflecting its abundant cultivated status.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Doxantha unguis var. microphylla Chodat Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève , sér. 2, 9: 243 (1917)
Doxantha unguis-cati var. dasyonyx (S.F.Blake) Seibert Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 522: 422 (1940)
Doxantha unguis-cati var. exoleta (Vell.) Fabris Revista Mus. La Plata, Secc. Bot. 9(43): 394 (1965)
Microbignonia auristellae Kraenzl. Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 6: 380 (1915)
Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H.Gentry Brittonia 25: 236 (1973)
Macfadyena undulata K.Schum. Nat. Pflanzenfam. 4(3b): 227 (1894)
Spathodea kohautiana Walp. Repert. Bot. Syst. 6: 513 (1838)
Batocydia unguis-cati (L.) Mart. ex Britton Sci. Surv. Porto Rico & Virgin Islands 6: 194. 1925 (1925)
Bignonia unguis-cati var. radicans DC. Prodr. 9: 146 (1845)
Batocydia exoleta Mart. Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 9: 148. 1845 (1845)
Batocydia unguis Mart. Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 9: 146. 1845 [1 Jan 1845]
Bignonia acutistipula Schltdl. Linnaea 26: 375 (1854)
Bignonia californica Brandegee Zoe 5: 170 (1903)
Bignonia catharinensis Schenck Schimp. Bot. Mittheil. 4: 191 (1892)
Bignonia dasyonyx S.F.Blake Contr. Gray Herb. , n.s., 52: 93 (1917)
Bignonia exoleta Vell. Fl. Flumin. : 248 (1825 publ. 1829)
Bignonia gracilis G.Lodd. Bot. Cab. 18: t. 1705 (1831)
Bignonia inflata Griseb. Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen 24: 256 (1879)
Bignonia lanuginosa Hemsl. Biol. Cent.-Amer., Bot. 2: 491 (1882)
Bignonia pseudounguis Desf. Tabl. École Bot. , ed. 3: 397 (1829)
Bignonia rodigasiana L.Linden Ill. Hort. 11: 89 (1893)
Bignonia triantha DC. Prodr. 9: 148 (1845)
Bignonia tweedieana Lindl. Bot. Reg. 26: t. 45 (1840)
Bignonia unguis L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10 , 2: 1114 (1759)
Bignonia unguis var. gracilis (Lodd.) DC. Prodr. 9: 146 1845
Bignonia unguis-cati L. Sp. Pl. : 623 (1753)
Bignonia unguis-cati var. exoleta Sprague Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 5: 84 (1905)
Bignonia unguis-cati var. guatemalensis K.Schum. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 23: 130 (1896)
Bignonia unguiscati var. serrata Bureau & K.Schum. Fl. Bras. 8(2): 283 (1896)
Bignonia vespertilia Barb.Rodr. Vellosia , ed. 2, 1: 53 (1891)
Dolichandra kohautiana C.Presl Abh. Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss. , ser. 5, 3: 522 (1845)
Doxantha acutistipula (Schltdl.) Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha adunca Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 188 (1863)
Doxantha chelephora Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha dasyonyx S.F.Blake J. Bot. 61: 192 (1923)
Doxantha exoleta Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 188 (1863)
Doxantha lanuginosa Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha mexicana Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha radicans Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha torquata Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha tweedieana (Lindl.) Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha unguis-cati (L.) Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 189. 1863 (1863)
Doxantha praesignis Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Doxantha serrulata Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190. 1863 (1863)
Doxantha tenuicula Miers Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 3: 190 (1863)
Bignonia unguis Vell. Fl. Flumin. 248. 1829 (1825 publ. 1829)
Doxantha unguis-cati var. microphylla Chodat Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève 9: 243 1917
Bignonia unguis var. guatemalensis K.Schum. & Loes. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 23: 130 1896
Batocydia unguis Mart. ex DC. Prodr. 9: 146 (1845)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English funnel creeper
English claw wine
English catclaw vine
English cat's claw trumpet
English cat's claw creeper
Spanish doxantha mexicana
Spanish bignonia rodigasiana
Spanish doxantha acutistipula
Spanish doxantha dasyonyx
Spanish doxantha unguis
Spanish doxantha tenuicula
Spanish doxantha unguis-cati var. exoleta
Spanish microbignonia auristellae
Spanish macfadyena unguis-cati
Spanish bignonia dasyonyx
Spanish bignonia acutistipula
Afrikaans katteklouranker
Arabic مخلب القط
Greek Μπιγκόνια η ονυχωτή
French liane patate
French macfadyena unguis-cati
Malay reriang
Portuguese macfadyena unguis-cati
Russian Макфадиена когтеносная
Russian Долихандра кошачий коготь
Swedish kattklo
Thai เหลืองชัชวาล
Chinese 猫爪藤

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Northern America
    • Mexico
      • Mexico Central
      • Mexico Gulf
      • Mexico Northeast
      • Mexico Northwest
      • Mexico Southeast
      • Mexico Southwest
  • Pacific
    • North-central Pacific
      • Hawaii
    • Southwestern Pacific
      • New Caledonia
  • Southern America
    • Brazil
      • Brazil North
      • Brazil Northeast
      • Brazil South
      • Brazil Southeast
      • Brazil West-central
    • Caribbean
      • Bahamas
      • Bermuda
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Haiti
      • Jamaica
      • Leeward Islands
      • Puerto Rico
      • Southwest Caribbean
      • Trinidad-Tobago
      • Venezuelan Antilles
      • Windward Islands
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panamá
    • Northern South America
      • French Guiana
      • Guyana
      • Suriname
      • Venezuela
    • Southern South America
      • Argentina Northeast
      • Argentina Northwest
      • Paraguay
      • Uruguay
    • Western South America
      • Bolivia
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000782438
UNII 5R4390U0U0
Florida Plant Atlas 1823
Tropicos 100182537
INPN 788845
Flora of Italy 9700
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77100466-1
The Plant List kew-320930
Open Tree Of Life 1001573
NCBI Taxonomy 73871
IPNI 77100466-1
iNaturalist 584095
GBIF 5830619
Freebase /m/0jwvvc8
EPPO BIGUC
EOL 595634
USDA GRIN 464796
Wikipedia Dolichandra_unguis-cati
Plantarium 61525

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Flavonoidal glycoside and alkaloid beside other constituents from Bignonia unguis-cati L. A. Attia Egypts Presidential Specialized Council for Education and Scientific Research 31-Dec-2019
doi:10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
Triterpenoids from Bignonia unguiscati Roots. Biswanath Dinda, Utpal Chandra De, Shiho Arima, Nariko Sato, Yoshihiro Harigaya Wiley 17-Nov-2005
doi:10.1002/CHIN.200550171
Steroid and Nitro Phenol Esters from Bignonia unguis‐cati roots. Biswanath Dinda, Utpal Chandra De, Basudev Achari, Shiho Arima, Nariko Sato, Yoshihiro Harigaya Wiley 30-Jun-2005
doi:10.1002/CHIN.200341193
Quinones and Other Constituents of Markhamia platycalyx and Bignonia unguiscati Krishna C. Joshi, P. Singh, Mahesh C. Sharma American Chemical Society (ACS) 17-Mar-2005
doi:10.1021/NP50037A031
Chemical characterization and biological activity of Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae). Duarte DS, Dolabela MF, Salas CE, Raslan DS, Oliveiras AB, Nenninger A, Wiedemann B, Wagner H, Lombardi J, Lopes MT J Pharm Pharmacol 01-Mar-2000
doi:10.1211/0022357001773904
PMID:10757425
Quinovic acid glycosides from roots of Macfadyena unguis-cati. Ferrari F, Kiyan de Cornelio I, Delle Monache F, Marini Bettolo GB Planta Med 01-Sep-1981
doi:10.1055/S-2007-971467
PMID:17402003

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Alkaloids and derivatives / Yohimbine alkaloids
18-Methyl-14-oxo-17-oxa-3,13-diazapentacyclo[11.8.0.02,10.04,9.015,20]henicosa-2(10),4,6,8,15-pentaene-19-carbaldehyde 75596141 Click to see 336.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-971467
> Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthoquinones
Npc216413 3884 Click to see 242.27 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols
1-Hexacosanol 68171 Click to see 382.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50037A031
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
(1R,2R,4aR,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-acetyloxy-1-hydroxy-2,4a,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-1-carboxylic acid 162849667 Click to see 514.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200550171
[(3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl] hexacosanoate 11040074 Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC1CCC2(C3CCC4(C(C3CC=C2C1)CCC4C(C)CCC(CC)C(C)C)C)C 793.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200341193
[17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl] hexacosanoate 14486674 Click to see 793.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200341193
10-Acetyloxy-1-hydroxy-2,4a,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-1-carboxylic acid 162849666 Click to see 514.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200550171
Beta-Amyrin 73145 Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50037A031
Colosolic acid 15917996 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O 472.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200550171
Corosolic acid 6918774 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C2C1C)C)C(=O)O 472.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200550171
Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, (3beta)- 521518 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
Quinovic acid 120678 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1C)C(=O)O)C(=O)O 486.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-971467
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 86821 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50037A031
beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside 296119 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
Stigmast-5-en-3-ol 22012 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50037A031
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Proline and derivatives
3-Hydroxystachydrine 46173781 Click to see 159.18 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives
Chlorogenic Acid 1794427 Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 354.31 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
Isochlorogensaure 12310829 Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 354.31 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azoles / Imidazoles
Allantoin 204 Click to see C1(C(=O)NC(=O)N1)NC(=O)N 158.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Azolidines / Imidazolidines / Hydantoins / Allantoins
(S)-(+)-allantoin 439714 Click to see 158.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Quercetin 5280343 Click to see 302.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides
5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-bis[(2S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one 44257674 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C(=C3O2)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)C5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O 594.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-[(2S,4R,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-6-[(2S,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one 44257716 Click to see 564.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Quercitrin 5280459 Click to see 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
3-Methoxyluteolin 5280681 Click to see COC1=C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O 316.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.21608/BFSA.1999.66114
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavonoid O-glycosides
6,8-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 162869160 Click to see 596.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904
6,8-Dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-7-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one 162869159 Click to see 596.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357001773904

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