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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Passion flower
| image =Passionflower.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Passifloraceae]]
| genus = '''''Passiflora'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 500 species, including:<br/>
''[[Passiflora affinis]]''<br/ >
''[[Passiflora alata]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora amalocarpa]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora amethystina]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora aurantia]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora caerulea]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora capsularis]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora coccinea]]'' <br />
''[[Passiflora edulis]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora foetida]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora guatemalensis]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora hahnii]]'' <br />
''[[Passiflora helleri]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora holosericea]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora incarnata]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora karwinskii]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora kermesina]]''<br>
''[[sweet granadilla|Passiflora ligularis]]''<br>
''[[Passiflora lutea]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora maliformis]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora mixta]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora montana]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora mucronata]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora murucuja]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora nitida]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora palenquensis]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora phoenicea]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora picturata]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora pinnatistipula]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora quadrangularis]]'' <br />
''[[Passiflora racemosa]]'' <br />
''[[Passiflora serratifolia]]'' <br />
''[[Passiflora tarminiana]]''<br>
''[[Passiflora tenuifila]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora tripartita]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora tulae]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora vitifolia]]''<br />
''[[Passiflora yucatanensis]]''
}}

'''Passion flower''' (''Passiflora''; [[synonymy|syn.]] ''Disemma'' [[Labill.]]) is a [[genus]] of about 500 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Passifloraceae]]. They are mostly [[vine]]s, with some being [[shrub]]s, and a few species being [[herbaceous]]. For information about the fruit of the passiflora plant, see [[passionfruit]].

== Biology ==
Most decorative passifloras have a unique [[flower]] structure, which requires a large [[bee]] to effectively [[Pollination|pollinate]] (see photos below). In the American tropics, wooden beams are mounted very near [[passionfruit]] plantings to encourage [[Carpenter bee]]s to nest. At the same time, the size and structure of flowers of different species of passiflora vary. Some species can be pollinated by [[hummingbird]]s and [[bumble bee]]s, others by [[wasp]]s, still others are self-pollinating. ''Passiflora'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]] of the [[moth]], ''[[Cibyra|Cibyra serta]]'' and many ''[[Heliconiinae]]'' [[Butterflies]]. Some of these include the caterpillars of the butterflies Melpomene, Sara, and Rosina.

The bracts of ''[[Passiflora foetida]]'' are covered by hairs which exude a sticky fluid. Many insects get stuck to this. Studies have suggested that this may be an adaptation similar to that seen in [[carnivorous plant]]s. (Radhamani, et al)

== Origin ==
The family Passifloraceae is found world wide, excluding [[Europe]] and [[Antarctica]].
Nine species are found in the [[USA]]. Passion flowers are found from [[Ohio]] to the north, as far west as [[California]] and south to the [[Florida Keys]]. Passion flowers are found in most of [[South America]] as well as [[China]] and Southern [[Asia]] (with 17 species), [[New Guinea]], [[Australia]] (with four, possibly more species) and [[New Zealand]] with one [[monotypic]] member of the family.

[[Africa]] has many members of the family Passifloraceae, (the rather more primitive ''Adenia'') but no ''Passiflora''.

The [[purple]] fruited ''[[Passiflora edulis]]'' and the yellow fruited ''Passiflora edulis'' var. ''flavicarpa'' are widely grown in subtropical and tropical regions respectively, for their delicious fruits.

These forms of ''[[Passiflora edulis]]'' have been found to be different species. They occur in different climate regions in nature and bloom at different times of day. The purple fruited species is self fertile and the yellow fruited species, despite claims to the contrary, is self sterile. It requires two clones for pollenization.

== Cultivation ==
During [[Victorian era|Victorian]] times the flower (which in all but a few species lasts only one day) was very popular and many hybrids were created using ''P. caerulea'' and ''P. alata'' and other tropical species.

Hundreds of hybrids have been named and hybridizing is currently being done extensively for flowers, foliage and fruit.
A number of species of ''Passiflora'' are cultivated outside their natural range (where some have become established) because of their beautiful flowers.
The '''passion fruit''' or '''maracujá''' vine of commerce, ''[[passion fruit|Passiflora edulis]]'', is cultivated extensively in the [[Caribbean]] and south [[Florida]] and [[South Africa]] for its fruit, which is used as a source of juice.

'''Maypop''' (''[[Passiflora incarnata]]''), a common species in the southern US, is a subtropical representative of this mostly tropical family. However, it thrives in New York City gardens. Its fruit is edible but quite seedy and mostly benefits wildlife. As with other passifloras, it is the larval food of a number of butterfly species. Carpenter bees figure as important pollinators of maypops.

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

'''Chilean passiflora''', (''[[Passiflora pinnatistipula]]'') grows in the [[Andes]], from [[Venezuela]] to [[Chile]], between 2500 and 3800 meters altitude, and in Coastal Central Chile, in where is an [[endangered]] vine from humid woody Chilean Mediterranean forests.

Many cool growing ''Passiflora'' from the Andes Mountains can be grown successfully for their beautiful flowers and fruit in cooler Mediterranean climates, such as the [[Monterey Bay]] and [[San Francisco]] in [[California]] and along the Western Coast of the U.S. into [[Canada]].

Most species have elongated fruit from two to eight inches long and an inch to two inches across depending upon the species or cultivar. ''P. pinnatistipula'' has a round fruit unusual in the ''Tacsonia'' group, which is typified by ''P. tarminiana'' and ''P. mixta'' with their elongated tubes and brightly red to rose colored petals.

== Medical and entheogenic uses ==
''Passiflora incarnata'' leaves and roots have a long history of use among [[Indigenous people of the Americas|Native Americans]] in [[North America]]. ''Passiflora edulis'' and a few other species are used in Central and South America. The fresh or dried leaves are used to make an infusion, a tea that is used to treat [[insomnia]], [[hysteria]], and [[epilepsy]], and is also valued for its painkilling properties. [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Passionflowerch.html] It has been found to contain [[beta-carboline]] [[harmala alkaloid]]s which are [[Monoamine oxidase inhibitor|MAOIs]] with [[anti-depressant]] properties. The flower has only traces of these chemicals, but the leaves and the roots of some species contain more and have been used to enhance the effects of mind-altering drugs.

Passionflower also may be effective for anxiety disorder, but further studies are needed. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11679026&dopt=Abstract]

== The name ==
"Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Passion of [[Christ]] on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of [[Crucifixion]]. For example: the 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful [[apostles]]. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds. The flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe since that time. In [[Spain]], it is known as ''Espina de Cristo'' (Christ's Thorn). In [[Germany]] it was once known as ''Muttergottes-Schuzchen'' (Mother-of-God's Star).

In [[Israel]] they are referred to as ''clock-flower'' (שעונית). In [[Japan]], they are known as ''clock-faced flowers'', and recently have become a symbol for [[homosexual]] youths.

In North America they are also called the Maypop, the water lemon, and the wild apricot (after its fruit). [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]s in the [[Tennessee]] area called it ''ocoee'', and the [[Ocoee River]] and valley are named after it.

<gallery>
Image:Passiflora kermesina3.jpg|''Passiflora kermesina''
Image:Passiflora alata.JPG|''Passiflora alata''
|''[[Passiflora caerulea]]'' closeup of the flower
Image:passion flower.jpg|''[[Passiflora caerulea]]'' with hand for comparison
Image:Passiflora sanguinolenta4.jpg|''Passiflora sanguinolenta''
Image:Passiflora_vitifolia.jpg|''[[Passiflora foetida]]''
Image:Passiflora_bud.jpg|''[[Passiflora foetida|P. foetida]]'' bud
Image:Maypop_pollination_5242.JPG|''[[Passiflora incarnata]]'' pollinated by ''Xylocopa virginica'' (a carpenter bee)
Image:Passiflora citrina BotGardBln1105FlowerD.jpg|''Passiflora citrina''
Image:Passiflora lutea...JPG|''[[Passiflora lutea]]''
Image:Passiflora picturata4.jpg|''Passiflora picturata''
Image:Passiflora racemosa10.jpg|''Passiflora racemosa''
Image:Passiflora serratifolia2.jpg|''Passiflora serratifolia''
Image:Passiflora tulae1.jpg|''Passiflora tulae''
Image:Passiflora vitifolia flower.jpg|''Passiflora vitifolia''
Image:Passiflora xishuangbannaensis1.jpg|''Passiflora xishuangbannaensis''
Image:Passiflora_Incense.jpg|''Passiflora'' 'Incense' is a decorative plant
</gallery>

==References==
* Radhamani, TR, Sudarshana, L., and Krishnan, R. 1995. Defence and carnivory: dual roles of bracts in Passiflora foetida. Journal of Biosciences 20: 657-664

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Passiflora}}

* [http://www.passiflora.org/ The Passiflora Society International]
* [http://www.passionflow.co.uk/ Passiflora online]
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/passionfruit.html Passiflora edulis]
* [http://www.floridanaturepictures.com/flowers/flowers.html Passiflora Picture Gallery]
* [http://www.chilebosque.cl/epiv/ppinn.html Chilean Passiflora pictures]
* [http://www.heliconius.co.uk/foodplants.htm A list of Heliconius Butterflies and the Passiflora species their larvae consume]

[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Passifloraceae]]
[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
[[Category:Flora of Chile]]
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