Passiflora caerulea

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Blue Passion Flower

Passiflora caerulea in flower

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. caerulea

Binomial name

Passiflora caerulea
L.

The Blue Passion Flower (Passiflora caerulea), also known as the Common Passion Flower, is a vine native to southern Brazil and Argentina (where it is known as the Pasionaria or Mburucuyá in Guaraní).

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 represent the chalice of the Last Supper, the five anthers represent the five wounds, the corona represents the crown of thorns, the ten 'petals' (actually five petals and five sepals) the apostles (save Judas the traitor and Peter the denyer); 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.

[edit] Description

A woody vine capable of growing to 15–20 m height 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 round supporting vegetation to hold the plant up.

The flower is complex, about 10 cm 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. Usually fragrant. The fruit is an oval orange-yellow berry 6 cm long by 4 cm diameter, containing numerous seeds; it is eaten and the seeds spread by mammals and birds. In tropical climates it will flower all year round.

[edit] Cultivars

'Chinensis' . Corona filaments paler blue.
'Constance Elliot' . 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 of hybrids.

[edit] Cultivation and uses

It is cultivated worldwide. Even though the fruit is edible, it is rather insipid when eaten raw. It can subsititute for blackberries. A tea can be made of the flower and is said to alleviate stress and anxiety. Plant in rich, well-drained soil in full sun and provide support. Water regularly in summer. Prune congested or overgrown plants in spring. Propagate from seed or cuttings or by layering in summer. They are susceptible to nematodes. P. caerulea is the most frost hardy species in the genus, hardy to -15°C, or USDA zone 7. Severe frost will cut the plant to the ground, but it will produce new growth from the base.