Sign Up    |     Login    |     Take a Tour    |     Need Help?

Passifloraceae Passiflora lauriflora L.

Passifloraceae Passiflora lauriflora
| | © W.D. Hawthorne

Other images of the same specimen :

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Keywords in this picture :

Places where this species can be found :

Species information

Description
Leaves unlobed, with glands on petiole. Sepals red-purple inside; petals cream with mauve to red markings. Fruits to 6.5cm long.

Interest
Passiflora - from latin passio, passion, and flos, flower. Edible fruit. The 'Passion' name alludes to catholic symbology perceived by early spanish explorers in the structure of the flower (Proctor, 1984). The significane of the parts of the flower and plant are: the corona is the Crown of Thorns, the three styles the three nails of the Crucifixion, five anthers are the five wounds, the 10 corolla and calyx elements are the 10 apostles that stayed with Christ (excludes Peter and Judas), the palmate leaves represent the hands of His persecutors and the tendrils are the scourge. P.edulis (passion fruit stems not winged) and P.quadrangularis (giant granadilla winged) commonly cultivated. P.edulis, S.Brazil. various forms purple (best c2000m) /yellow; ft juice. P.qu. tropical S.America. Brought to cultivation in 18th C. Also edible are P.laurifolia -water lemon. Cultivated in 17th C, and distributed. P. ligularis, sweet Granadilla mts of Mex CAM. P.foetida. S.Am & Windies lvs foul-smelling when crushed, but Pulp edible. Good cover crop (Purseglove, 1968).

Specimen information

Collector
W.D. Hawthorne, D.Jules

Specimen Number
970

Location
N of Prospect, towards little David point, by river. Just n. of junction in dry forest with Guettarda.

Notes
"Water lemon". Tastes a bit like normal passion fruits, but with a strong element / smelling more of smoked ham or gamey meat.

Coordinates
Latitude: 12.130000 N   Longitude: 61.390000 W   Altitude: 0.0