Passion Flower

The genus Passiflora is the type genus of the family Passifloraceae. Its distribution is largely neotropic, and the vast majority of species are found in the United States and Latin America.

Passiflora incarnata

Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as maypop, is a fast-growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. It is native to the southeastern United States. The large flowers are intricate, with prominent styles and stamens. They have five bluish-white petals and a white and purple corona. The leaves are alternate and palmately three lobed, occasionally five lobed. The fruit, also called a maypop, is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg.

Passion flower and passion fruit

Passion fruit is the fruit of Passiflora edulis, one of the many species of passion flower. Passiflora edulis is a vine native to southern Brazil, through Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

Chemistry

Headspace analysis of fresh Passiflora incarnata found carvone (8.1%), palmitic acid (7.2%), oleic acid (6.3%), benzyl alcohol (4.1%) and linalool (3.2%) among its volatile compounds. Many Passiflora species have been found to contain beta-carboline harmala alkaloids. Chrysin, a commercially important flavone, is found in the blue passion flower (P. caerulea).

Names

The passion in passion flower purportedly refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. The word passion comes from the Latin passio, meaning 'suffering'. In Spain, the flower is known as espina de Cristo ('thorn of Christ'). Outside the Roman Catholic heartland, the regularly shaped flowers have reminded people of a clock face.

Uses

Species of Passiflora are widely cultivated for their striking flowers and flavorful fruits. The fresh or dried leaves of maypop are used to make a tea that is used as a sedative. Passion flower as dried powder or an extract is used as a dietary supplement. Passion flower is not recommended during pregnancy because it may induce contractions.

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