description
Passiflora incarnata, a member of the Passifloraceae family, is a fast
growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems.
The stems can be
smooth or pubescent; they are long and trailing, possessing many tendrils.
Leaves are alternate and palmately 3-lobed and occasionally 5-lobed,
measuring 6–15 centimeters (2.4–5.9 in). They have two characteristic glands
at the base of the blade on the petiole.
Flowers have five bluish-white
petals. They exhibit a white and purple corona, a structure of fine
appendages between the petals and stamens. The large flower is typically
arranged in a ring above the petals and sepals. They are pollinated by
insects such as bumblebees and carpenter bees, and are self-sterile. The
flower normally blooms in July.
The fleshy fruit of the Passiflora incarnata—also referred to as a
"maypop"—is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg. The fruit is green
at first, but then becomes orange as it matures.
common names & nomenclature
Passion flowers are so named from the resemblance of the finely-cut corona
in the centre of the blossoms to the Crown of Thorns and of the other parts
of the flower to the instruments of the Passion of Jesus in Christian
theology.
Also known as:
Maypop, maypops, purple passionflower, true passionflower, wild apricot, wild
passion vine, passion vine, granadilla, maracoc, espina de Cristo, clock flower,
clock plant
