Plant Family: Belongs to the Acanthaceae or Acanthus family, which includes an erect Thunburgia species (T. erecta) and the ornamental Sanchezia speciosa.

Description: A strong and fast growing, large, woody, high climbing vine, on fences, walls, shrubs and trees; flowering branches often pendulous; leaves simple and opposite, toothed and rough on both sides, lanceolate to ovate (elongated heart shape), up to 15 cm long (6 in); beautiful flowers born year-round; are axillary and solitary or in short racemes; have sky-blue, 5-petaled corolla, 6-10 cm across (2.5-4 in), inside pair of large, joined, boat-shaped, light brownish-green bracteoles; calyx inconspicuous; fruit is a capsule.

Natural Habitat: Tropical vine, mostly at low elevations; propagated by seed and cuttings.

Origin and Distribution: Native of India and the E. Indies; found in most of the Caribbean islands and widespread in tropics and sub-tropics.

Uses: Cultivated ornamental vine; plant prized for its abundant beautiful blue flowers, born year round; however, flowers wilt quickly when cut.

References:
G.W. Lennox and S.A. Seddon. Flowers of the Caribbean. Macmillan, London 1978
Dorothy P. Storer. Familiar Trees and Cultivated Plants of Jamaica. Macmillan, London 1964
H.F. Macmillan. Tropical Planting and Gardening. Macmillan, London 1956
C.D. Adams. Flowering Plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Glasgow University Press 1972
Robert A. DeFilipps. Useful Plants of the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1998