Passiflora caerulea, the blue passionflower, bluecrown passionflower or common passion flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Passifloraceae. It is native to South America and has been introduced elsewhere.

It forms a vigorous, deciduous or semi-evergreen tendril-bearing vine growing to or more. Its leaves are palmately lobed, and its fragrant flowers are blue-white with a prominent fringe of coronal filaments in bands of blue, white, yellow, and brown. The ovoid orange fruit grows to across.

The fruit is edible, but is sometimes described as having an unpalatable or unpleasant flavour. In South America, the plant is known for its medicinal properties, and is used by both the Toba and the Maka peoples.

Description

thumbnail|Passiflora caerulea flowerPassiflora caerulea is a woody vine capable of growing to high where supporting trees are available. The leaves are alternate, palmately five-lobed (sometimes three, seven, or nine lobes), and are up to in length while being linear-oblong shaped. The base of each leaf has a flagellate-twining tendril long, which twines around supporting vegetation to hold the plant up.

While commonly used as an ornamental vine in tropical landscaping, it is an invasive, noxious weed that can take over native wildlife. Plants sometimes send underground shoots up to 15 feet from the mother plant.

Chemical constituents

Compared to P. incarnata, this plant contains higher amounts of the MAO-inhibitor harmine.

Etymology

The specific epithet caerulea means "blue" and refers to the blue coronal filaments.

Cultivation

Passiflora caerulea is widely cultivated as a wall-climber or as groundcover. It is a hardy species, able to survive winter temperatures as low as , although it requires a sheltered position facing south or west (in the Northern Hemisphere). It can become invasive, the twining shoots constantly appearing unless eradicated. It is the only Passiflora species that volunteers in California. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Cultivars

thumb|White-flowered cultivar P. caerulea 'Constance Elliott'

A number of cultivars have been produced from the species:

  • 'Chinensis' (corona filaments paler blue)
  • 'Constance Elliott' was raised by Lucombe, Pince & Co in Exeter, Great Britain in 1884. It has pure white, fragrant flowers; not as free-flowering as many other clones. It has also won the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • 'Pierre Pomie', a pale pink flower form

Uses

The fruit is edible to humans when ripe, but its flavour has been described as bland, undesirable or insipid. though with a lower sugar content than commonly eaten species.thumb|P. caerulea flower and fruit

A tea can be made of the flower or leaves; but the leaves contain tetraphyllin B and epi-tetraphyllin B, cyanogenic glycosides that liberate hydrogen cyanide when activated by enzymes. It is possible to boil away most of the cyanide.

In South America, the plant is known for its medicinal uses. It is used in both herbal tea and dietary supplements, as well as in marmalades, ice creams, syrups and beverages. It is also used by the indigenous Argentinian Toba and Maka people.

In culture

Passiflora caerulea is the national flower of Paraguay. Its intricate structure has generated Christian symbolism, each part representing a different part of the Passion of Christ.

<gallery>

File:Fleur de jardin.JPG|Flower

File:Passiflora caerulea (2005 10 08) - vrucht.jpg|Fruit

File:South Central Farm 45.jpg|Flower

File:Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Elliot'.jpg|'Constance Elliot', a white flowered cultivar

File:Passiflora "Pierre Pomié".jpg|'Pierre Pomie', a pale pink flowered cultivar

File:Passiflora-caerulea 2019-06-23 (DSC2447-1).jpg|Peculiarity: two fused filaments force anthers upwards, displaying pollen beds otherwise not visible from this perspective.

File:Passiflora caerulea -Passiflore bleue-Fleurs-20210705.jpg|Flower

File:Passiflora caerulea seeds.jpg|Seeds, the red gel-like substance around them removed

File:Passiflora caerulea, espécie de maracujá (do tupi murukuîá) 03.jpg|Whole fruit

File:Passiflora caerulea, espécie de maracujá (do tupi murukuîá) 01.jpg|Fruit

</gallery>

References

  • Topwalks.net: Passiflora caerulea