This looks like Lablab - I'm sure someone was talking about it a few months ago - I'll go and look it up.
http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/purple_hyacinth_bean_vine_seeds_lablab_purpureus_dolichos_lablab.html

It was Fractal - growing some at work -
http://www.growsonyou.com/genus/slideshow/Lablab/164531

Perhaps Fractal could confirm whether the seed pods look right?

Why not send Fractal a PM?

Thanks everyone. There are certainly some similarities with the plants shown on the links, but they are not the same. The pods in my photos are thicker and straighter. The leaves are also quite different looking at them. Though semi-heart shaped, they are more slender, much more delicate, appear to come in sets of three, and the colour is much lighter. It also does not seem to flower in clusters, or nearly as profusely. It may be related in some way, but altogether appears less vigorous - and not at all bean-like. I may well have to wait until Spring (?) for the flowers - but I'm going to print the photo, laminate it, and attach it to the stem, so I don't forget its there!
rgs, ptarotuos

Indeed, this is not Lablab. Not sure what genus it is but will investigate!

Thanks fractal. There seems to be some (though not strong) resemblance with Decaisnea fargesii (Deadman's Finger), but the leaves on my plants are different (not waxy), the pods much smaller, only about an inch long, and the manner of growing different. However, it is out near Halloween (as with DmF). So nice to have such lovely wild plants.

Yes, Decaisnea is a plant I am very familiar with though this is a stout, thick stemmed free standing shrub.

Still no further except that it has a look of Lima Beans but can't find a form of it with purple pods...

It looks like am going to have to eat my words Beattie. Further investigation seems to suggest that it quite probably is Lablab (Dolichos). The leaves on the one I grew were slightly different in shape (but not much) so this could just be variation in the species. They were also a slightly bronzed colour, again just a selection or form of the species. I never got to see the pods develop very far as I removed them pretty much straight away to keep it flowering. It was eventually sold after a month or two on the shop floor so that was that!

Beattie, you can choose which word I have to eat. Lablab, or Dolichos :-)

Thanks fractal: eating your words seems a bit premature. I remain unconvinced that it is lablab, or even a related species. I'm going up to Shadowlands again on Saturday, and will make a more thorough investigation.
Rgds, ptarotuos

LOL Fractal! I choose "sandwich", you can have the filling of your choice :-) Mine's ham and tomato - a tasty lunch!

Lol, thanks Beattie :-/

Look forward to update after your future foray Ptarotuos.

Dear Fractal, Beattie, Alextb and other interested parties,

Went up to Shadowlands again recently. Some of the seed pods had opened, the casing curling up, and revealing small berries like blue berries. See photo in my photos section. Does this fit with your Lablab identification. Really beautiful plant.

Cheers,

ptarotuos

I can't find your "berries" photo?

Fractal, I think it's this one -
http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/184106-purple-seed-pods-releasing-purple-blue-berries/member/ptarotuos

I can't comment, not actually having seen the plant in the cellulose, as it were.

Ah, I see. I didn't look properly before. I think I can see the seeds exposed at the top. Interesting!...

Sorry about the quality of the picture. What is extraodinary about this plant is that when the seed pods open the shell curls up, and th inside is bright white and the berries, very much like blueberries in colour. So it is a combination of the deep purple of the seed pod sheel, the inside white, and the bluish berries looks great. Such expectations for the flowering season, whether that is. But, nature will probably have bluffed us and the flower will be a pathetic thing!! Nest time I'm up there I am going to start tagging. I bought a laminator, and will take photos of plants I like, print them out, laminate and then tag them so I don't inadvertantly remove them when clearing the undergrowth.

That idea of laminated tags is a good one Ptarotuos! I wonder how weatherproof they would be, and how fadeproof the ink is? You could use a permanent marker pen to write on card and laminate that - I wonder if it would work better than pen on plastic strips which I find fades really badly.