Passiflora caerulea

Passiflora caerulea
File:Passiflora caerulea (2005 10 08) - vrucht.jpg
File:Passiflora caerulea (2005 10 08) - vrucht open (2).jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. caerulea
Binomial name
Passiflora caerulea L.

Passiflora caerulea, commonly known as the Blue Passion Flower or the Common Passion Flower, is a vine native to South America (Argentina, Paraguay (where it is widely known as the Mburucuyá in Guaraní) , Uruguay and Brazil). These names may also be applied to Passiflora edulis sometimes known as the passionfruit.

It is popular with gardeners because of its intricate, scented flowers that have an almost plastic-looking appearance. The unusual shape of the flowers has led to the plant being associated in Christian symbolism with the passion of Jesus; the three stigmas representing the three nails used to nail Jesus to the cross, the ovary and its stalk representing the chalice of the Last Supper, the five anthers representing the five wounds, the corona representing the Crown of Thorns, the ten "petals" (actually five petals and five sepals) the Apostles (save Judas the traitor and Peter the denier); the old leaves also represent the hands of those who persecuted Him, the young leaves the point of the lance used to stab Him, and the tendrils the whips of those who beat Him.

Description

A woody vine capable of growing to 15–20 m high where supporting trees are available. The leaves are alternate, palmately five-lobed like a spread hand (sometimes three or seven lobes), 10–18 cm long and wide. The base of each leaf has a flagellate-twining tendril 5–10 cm long, which twines around supporting vegetation to hold the plant up.

The flower is complex, about 10 cm in diameter, with the five sepals and petals similar in appearance, whitish in colour, surmounted by a corona of blue or violet filaments, then five greenish-yellow stamens and three purple stigmas. The fruit is an oval orange-yellow berry 6 cm long by 4 cm in diameter, containing numerous seeds; it is eaten, and the seeds spread by mammals and birds. In tropical climates, it will flower all year round.

Cultivars

A number of cultivars have been produced from the species.

• 'Chinensis' . Corona filaments paler blue.
• 'Constance Elliott' . Was raised by Kucombe and Prince in Exeter, Great Britain. It has pure white, fragrant flowers; not as free-flowering as many other clones.
• 'Grandiflora' . Flowers to 20 cm in diamter.
• 'Hartwiesiana' . Flowers white.
• 'Regnellii' . Has very long corona filaments.

The species has been used in numerous hybrids.

Cultivation and uses

File:South Central Farm 45.jpg

The flower of P. caerulea

Passiflora caerulea is cultivated worldwide. Even though the fruit is edible, it is rather insipid when eaten raw. It can substitute for blackberries. More palatable is the fruit of the Passiflora edulis, which is sweet and acidic. A tea can be made of the flower and is said to alleviate stress and anxiety. However, cyanogenic glycoside (breaks down into cyanide) has been found in the leaves. It is possible to boil away most of the cyanide..
In South America, it is used to make juice and delicious desserts such as the passion fruit mousse.

In culture

The flower of the passion fruit is considered as the national flower of Paraguay.

External links

• Passiflora caerulea in Topwalksbs:Pasijonka