Passifloraceae

Passionflower Family

By: George Rogers

A worldwide mostly tropical family of 18 genera (most prominently Passiflora) and 770 species, usually tendril-bearing vines.   Leaf blades and petioles often with glands.  Flowers often very showy, having usually 5 sepals,  5 petals, 5 stamens, and a corona (crown) of filamentous projections attached to the edge of the floral cup (hypanthium).  Ovary usually 3-carpelled (with one chamber), often on a “stalk” (gynophore), having a usually 3-lobed stigma.  (Data from Flora of China, SMI)

Several native and non-native species of Passiflora are found in and out of cultivation in Florida.

(Data in the list below largely from http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Default.aspx and from http://hernando.fnpschapters.org/plants/passionvines.htm)

Passiflora biflora Lam., Twinleaf Passionflower, is a FEPPC II invasive.

Passiflora caerulea L. Blue Passionflower, South America (Passiflora X belottii is a hybrid of this species with P. alata.)

Passiflora coccinea Aubl. Scarlet Passion Flower, non-native, escaped

Passiflora edulis Sims, Edible Passionfruit, non-native, escaped

Passiflora foetida L., Fetid Passionflower, non-native, escaped in PB County, with the pinnate bracts “love in a mist”

NATIVE: Passiflora incarnata L., Purple Passionflower, Maypops

NATIVE: Passiflora lutea L., Yellow Passionflower (native north of our region)

NATIVE: Passiflora multiflora L., Whiteflower Passionflower, state-listed endangered native species in southernmost Florida

NATIVE: Passiflora pallens Poepp. ex Mast., Pineland Passionflower, state-listed endangered in southern Florida

Passiflora racemosa Brot. Red Passion Flower (see also P. coccinea)

NATIVE: Passiflora sexflora Jussieu, Goatsfoot Passionflower, state-listed endangered in southernmost Florida

NATIVE: Passiflora suberosa L. Corkystem Passionvine

Passiflora vitifolia Kunth,  Perfumed Passionflower, non-native and escaped

Passiflora Xbelottii Pepin, a showy, non-native, cultivated hybrid (see P. caerulea)

Species of passionflowers have numerous uses as foods, beverages, and medicines to counter many ailments.  Most salient are debatable indications that these alkaloid- and saponin-bearing plants contain natural sedatives.   Passiflora derivatives have served in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.   (For a thorough discussion see AUS, who warns of toxicity in Passiflora products.) 

Key To Passionvines Cultivated in South Florida (for key to wild-growing species see WU1)

1. Flower the diameter of a quarter, not showy (greenish yellow)…Corkystem Passionvine Passiflora suberosa

1. Flower much larger than a quarter…2

2. Flower red throughout…3

2. Flower not completely red (may be partly so)…4

3. Flowers not clustered; leaves not lobed…Scarlet Passionflower Passiflora coccinea

3. Flowers clustered; leaves lobed…Red Passionflower Passiflora racemosa

4. Calyx lobes dissected, collectively resembling a net… Fetid Passionflower Passiflora foetida

4. Calyx lobes not dissected…5

5. Leaf lobes 5-7… Blue Passionflower Passiflora caerulea (sepals white or pinkish, petals pinkish, corona white and purple)

5. Leaf  lobes 3 (or absent)…6

6. Sepals and petals mostly violet…Passiflora Xbelottii (See P. caerulea)

6. Sepals and petals usually white (to purple)…7

7. Leaf  blades glossy above; corona lobes mostly white above the middle; fruit purple or yellow…Edible Passionfruit Passiflora edulis (Sepals and petals usually white (to purple); corona lobes purple basally with white tips)

7. Leaf blades dull-green above; corona lobes purple (with small white marks) above the middle; fruit yellow… Purple Passionflower Passiflora incarnata (sepals and petals usually white; corona lobes purple marked with white)