Passion flower

About 500 species, including:

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Passiflora amalocarpa

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Passiflora amethystina

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Passiflora aurantia

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Passiflora caerulea

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Passiflora capsularis

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Passiflora coccinea

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Passiflora edulis

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Passiflora foetida

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Passiflora helleri

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Passiflora holosericea

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Passiflora incarnata

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Passiflora karwinskii

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Passiflora ligularis

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Passiflora mollissima

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Passiflora mucronata

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Passiflora murucuja

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Passiflora quadrangularis

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Passiflora racemosa

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Passiflora serratifolia

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Passiflora tenuifila

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Passiflora tulae

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Passiflora vitifolia

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Passiflora yucatanensis

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Passion flower refers to vines in the genus Passiflora—flowering plants known for their showy flowers. The plants were named for the passion of Christ, because the flower structure seemed symbolic of Jesus' scourging, crowning with thorns, and crucifixion. Passion flowers are native to tropical and sub-tropical America. However, a number of species of Passiflora are cultivated outside their natural range (where some have become established) because of their beautiful flowers.

Related Topics:
Flowering plant - Flower - Christ - Crucifixion - America

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Most of decorative passifloras have a unique blossom structure: one which requires a large bee to effectively pollinate (see photo below). In the American tropics, wooden beams are mounted near passionfruit plantings to encourage Carpenter bees to nest. At the same time, sizes and structures of flowers of various species of passiflora vary. Some species can be pollinated by hummingbirds and bumble bees, others by wasps, still others are self-pollinating.

Related Topics:
Bee - Pollinate - Carpenter bee - Hummingbird - Bumble bee - Wasp

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The passion fruit vine of commerce, Passiflora edulis (:pt:maracujá, :es:maracuyá), is cultivated extensively in the Caribbean and south Florida for its fruit, used as source of juice.

Related Topics:
Passion fruit - :pt:maracujá - :es:maracuyá - Caribbean - Florida

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Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), a common wildflower in the southern US, is a subtropical representative of this mostly tropical family. Its fruit is edible, but is quite seedy and mostly benefits wildlife. As with other passifloras, it is the larval food of a number of butterfly species.

Related Topics:
Passiflora incarnata - Wildflower - Larva

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Banana poka or Curuba (Passiflora mollissima) originally from Central Brazil, is an invasive weed, especially on the islands of Hawaii, where it is spread by feral pigs eating the fruits. It overgrows and smothers stands of endemic vegetation, mainly on roadsides. Its fruits are edible, but not as much sought-after as maracujá.

Related Topics:
Passiflora mollissima - Brazil - Invasive - Weed - Hawaii - Feral - Pig - Endemic

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