Passion flower

Revision as of 15:19, 7 May 2009 by Raffi (talk | contribs) (a little cleanup)


Passionflower.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Exposure: full sun"full sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: regular to moderate"regular to moderate" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: flowers (some fruit)"Flowers (some fruit)" is not in the list (evergreen, deciduous, flowers, fragrance, edible, fruit, naturalizes, invasive, foliage, birds, ...) of allowed values for the "Features" property.
Sunset Zones: vary by species
Scientific Names

Passifloraceae >

Passiflora >


There are approximately 500 species in the Passiflora genus, better known as Passion flowers or passion vines. The exotic flowers and fruit of many varieties are popular with gardeners. Most are vines, but some are shrubs, and a few are herbaceous. The most commonly eaten passionfruit grows on Passiflora edulis.

Fruit

Most species produce round to elongated edible fruit, though few are widely eaten. Fruit is 2-8 inches long and 1-2 inches across, depending on species or cultivar.

The passion fruit or maracujá (P. edulis) is cultivated extensively for its fruit, which is used as a source of juice. A small purple fruit which wrinkles easily and a larger shiny yellow to orange fruit are traded under this name. The yellow form is normally just treated as a variety flavicarpa, but appears to be more distinct in fact.

Sweet Calabash (P. maliformis) grown for its edible fruit.

Sweet Granadilla (P. ligularis) is widely-grown. It's called "passionfruit" in much of of Africa and Australia: in South Africa it is usually called "granadilla". The fruit is something like a combination of the two P. edulis types.

Maypop (P. incarnata), is common in the SE United States. It is a subtropical, in a mostly tropical family. Unlike most of the tropical varieties, this species can withstand cold down to -4°F (-20°C) before the roots die. It has been cultivated north to Boston and Chicago. The yellowish fruit is sweet, and about the size of an egg. Grown for the edible fruit and for being relatively pest free.

Giant Granadilla (Giant Tumbo or badea, P. quadrangularis), Water Lemon (P. laurifolia) and Sweet Calabash (P. maliformis) are popular for their fruit in certain, localized parts of the world. Wild Maracuja are popular in SE Asia and are the fruit of P. foetida. Banana passionfruits grow on P. tripartita var. mollissima and P. tarminiana, and as the name implies are rather elongated. These two are eaten locally, and are very invasive.

Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

 
Stinking Passion Flower (P. foetida) bracts with the insect-catching hairs.
 
The caterpillars of Heliconius charithonia, like many of their relatives, are fond of Passiflora lutea leaves whose poison protects the caterpillars from predators.

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Gallery

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References

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