Purple Granadilla
Passiflora edulis
Passion flower family (Passifloraceae)
A fascinating flower with two different sides
The passion flower is native to southeastern United States. It is a fast growing, perennial vine with underground runners. The flower colour can vary from pale white to pinkish purple.
Spanish missionaries were fascinated by the construction of the magical flower. They recognised a symbolism with the instruments used to inflict pain on Christ’s body at his crucifixion with the flower parts: for example the red-violet radiating coronal filaments reminded them of the crown of thorns; the three large carpels, the nails - hence its name, the passionflower.
The Spanish conquerors learned to use the passionflower as a sedative for the nervous system from the Aztecs of Mexico. Other native folk made tea from this plant for its calming effect and as a painkiller. The passionflower is used in the Netherlands to aid sleep.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Alkmaar Botanic Garden.
An agreeable cooling taste. The ripe aromatic fruit is allowed to wrinkle and develop sweetness, it is then eaten raw, juiced, made into a syrup or used in sauces, cakes etc.. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.
De passiebloem werd oorspronkelijk door de Maya´s, Azteken van Zuid en Midden Amerika en de Indianen van Noord Amerika ook al gebruikt als medicijn.
Wetenschappelijk onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat deze plant een goede werking heeft bij overactiviteit, zenuwachtigheid, gejaagdheid, stress en rusteloosheid.
Details
| Description: | Herbaceous climber, up to 15 m. |
|---|---|
| Distributions: | Native of southern brazil, paraguay to northern argentina, cultivated and naturalized in several regions of tropical and southern africa. |
| Habitat: | In disturbed areas of secondary vegetation. |
| Year cycle: | Perennial (trees and shrubs included) |
| Hardiness: | 5 - 14 f (hardy - cold winter) |
| Flowering period: | Juli - augustus |
| Flower color: | Purple, white |
| Notes on flowers: | Petals white. corona white, purple at base. |
| Fruiting period: | November |
| Fruit color: | Yellow, green, purple |
| Notes on fruits: | Yellow, greenish-yellow or purplish. |
| At its best: | Juli - augustus, november |