Passiflora alata
| Passiflora alata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Passifloraceae |
| Genus: | Passiflora |
| Species: | P. alata |
| Binomial name | |
| Passiflora alata Curtis[1] | |
Passiflora alata,[2] the winged-stem passion flower, is a species of flowering plant. It is an evergreen vine, growing to 6 m (20 ft) or more, which bears an edible type of passion fruit. It is native to the Amazon, from Peru to eastern Brazil.
Names
The local peoples refer to it as ouvaca, meaning "red star" due to the appearance of its flower. Other names include fragrant grenadilla, and maracuja de refresco.[3] The specific epithet alata means "winged", referring to the 4-winged stems.[4]
Description
The leaves are oval or oblong, 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 1–10 cm (0–4 in) wide. The fragrant flower is 7–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, with red curved tepals, and a prominent fringed corona in bands of purple and white giving the appearance of stripes.[3] It usually blooms around late summer or early fall, needing full sun exposure. P. alata attracts bees, butterflies and birds.
The solitary fruit is highly prized by local people. It is egg-shaped, yellow to bright orange, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter. It weighs from 90–300 g (3–11 oz).
Cultivation
In temperate zones P. alata is usually cultivated indoors, though it can also be grown outside in areas where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C (41 °F). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]
Medicinal Uses
In Brazil, P. alata is officially recognized as a phytomedicine, and was included in first edition of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia in 1929. It is well known in folk medicine throughout South America, though the exact pharmacological composition of the plant is little understood and requires more study.[6]
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References
- ↑ "Passiflora alata". IPNI. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ↑ "Passiflora alata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ↑ "Passiflora alata". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ↑ http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/pdf/856/85622430001.pdf
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Further reading
Ramos Lawinscky, Pabliane; Magalhães Souza, Margarete; de Oliveira Belo, Gabriela; Carvalho Viana, Américo José; Ferreira de Melo, Cláusio Antônio; Lima de Oliveira, Cínthia Sthepfany. "Morphological characterization and genetic diversity in Passiflora alata Curtis and P-cincinnata Mast. (Passifloraceae)". BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 37 (3): 261–272.
Rudnicki, Martina; Roberto de Oliveira, Marcos; Tiago da Veiga Pereira; Henrique Reginattob, Flávio; Dal-Pizzola, Felipe; Cláudio Fonseca Moreiraa, José (20 December 2005). "Antioxidant and antiglycation properties of Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis extracts". Food Chemistry 100 (2): 719–724. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.10.043.
Lugato, Danielle; Pacheco, Georgia; Simao, Mariela; Garcia, Renata (11 April 2014). "Determination of Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of extract s from in vivo plants and in vito materials of Passiflora Alata". Plant Cell and Organ Culture 118 (2): 339-346. doi:10.1007/s11240-014-0486-4.
- ↑ Oliveira, Melquisedec (Feb 2015). "Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost to maximize the production of foliar biomolecules in Passiflora alata Curtis seedlings". Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost to maximize the production of foliar biomolecules in Passiflora alata Curtis seedlings 95 (3): 522–528. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6767. Retrieved 29 April 2015.