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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Blue Passion Flower
| image = South Central Farm 45.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Passiflora caerulea'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Passifloraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Passiflora]]''
| species = '''''P. caerulea'''''
| binomial = ''Passiflora caerulea''
| binomial_authority = 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]]). These names may also be applied to [[Passiflora edulis]] sometimes known as the ''passionfruit'.
It is popular with gardeners because of its intricate, scented [[flower]]s that have an almost plastic-looking appearance. The unusual shape of the flowers has led to the plant being associated in [[Christianity|Christian]] symbolism with the passion of [[Jesus]]; the three stigmas representing the three [[nail (engineering)|nail]]s used to nail Jesus to the [[crucifixion|cross]], the [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] and its stalk represent the chalice of the [[Last Supper]], the five [[anther]]s represent the five [[wound]]s, the corona represents the [[crown of thorns]], the ten 'petals' (actually five petals and five sepals) the [[Twelve apostles|apostles]] (save [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] the traitor and [[St Peter|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.
===Description===
A woody vine capable of growing to 15–20 m height where supporting [[tree]]s are available. The [[leaf|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 [[stamen]]s and three purple [[carpel|stigma]]s. Usually fragrant. The [[fruit]] is an oval orange-yellow [[berry]] 6 cm long by 4 cm diameter, containing numerous [[seed]]s; it is eaten and the seeds spread by [[mammal]]s and [[bird]]s. In tropical climates it will flower all year round.
===[[Cultivars]]===
*''' '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 [[Cloning|clones]].
*''' 'Grandiflora' '''. Flowers to 20 cm in diamter.
*''' 'Hartwiesiana' '''. Flowers white.
*''' 'Regnellii' '''. Has very long corona filaments.
The species has been used in numerous [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]].
===Cultivation and uses===
It 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.
{{commons}}
<gallery>
Image:Passionfruit flower.JPG|Flower
Image:Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Elliot'.jpg|''P. caerulea'' 'Constance Elliott'
Image:PassifloraCaerulea-bud-100k.jpg|Flower bud
Image:PassifloraCaerulea-overv-100k.jpg|plant growing on a wall
Image:Passiflora caerulea (2005 10 08) - vrucht open (2).jpg|fruit
</gallery>
| color = lightgreen
| name = Blue Passion Flower
| image = South Central Farm 45.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Passiflora caerulea'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Passifloraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Passiflora]]''
| species = '''''P. caerulea'''''
| binomial = ''Passiflora caerulea''
| binomial_authority = 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]]). These names may also be applied to [[Passiflora edulis]] sometimes known as the ''passionfruit'.
It is popular with gardeners because of its intricate, scented [[flower]]s that have an almost plastic-looking appearance. The unusual shape of the flowers has led to the plant being associated in [[Christianity|Christian]] symbolism with the passion of [[Jesus]]; the three stigmas representing the three [[nail (engineering)|nail]]s used to nail Jesus to the [[crucifixion|cross]], the [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] and its stalk represent the chalice of the [[Last Supper]], the five [[anther]]s represent the five [[wound]]s, the corona represents the [[crown of thorns]], the ten 'petals' (actually five petals and five sepals) the [[Twelve apostles|apostles]] (save [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] the traitor and [[St Peter|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.
===Description===
A woody vine capable of growing to 15–20 m height where supporting [[tree]]s are available. The [[leaf|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 [[stamen]]s and three purple [[carpel|stigma]]s. Usually fragrant. The [[fruit]] is an oval orange-yellow [[berry]] 6 cm long by 4 cm diameter, containing numerous [[seed]]s; it is eaten and the seeds spread by [[mammal]]s and [[bird]]s. In tropical climates it will flower all year round.
===[[Cultivars]]===
*''' '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 [[Cloning|clones]].
*''' 'Grandiflora' '''. Flowers to 20 cm in diamter.
*''' 'Hartwiesiana' '''. Flowers white.
*''' 'Regnellii' '''. Has very long corona filaments.
The species has been used in numerous [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]].
===Cultivation and uses===
It 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.
{{commons}}
<gallery>
Image:Passionfruit flower.JPG|Flower
Image:Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Elliot'.jpg|''P. caerulea'' 'Constance Elliott'
Image:PassifloraCaerulea-bud-100k.jpg|Flower bud
Image:PassifloraCaerulea-overv-100k.jpg|plant growing on a wall
Image:Passiflora caerulea (2005 10 08) - vrucht open (2).jpg|fruit
</gallery>