| General Information |
|
| Distribution | A genus of about 500 species centered in the American tropics, with numerous species in the Andes.
|
|
|
|
Habit
|
Herbaceous vines or lianas or with axillary tendrils, sometimes shrubs or trees.
|
Leaves
|
Leaves simple or rarely compound, alternate or in 1 species opposite, entire or lobed, petiolate, stipulate, with foliar nectaries on blade or adaxial surface of petiole, absent in several species.
|
Flowers
|
Inflorescences axillary, flowers usually solitary or in pairs, sometimes a raceme; bracts 3, foliaceous or setaceous. Flowers with tubular or campanulate hypanthium; sepals 5; petals 5 or absent; corona filamentous or reduced to tubercles, in 1 to several series; stamens 5(‒8), on an androgynophore, anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits; ovary 3(4)-carpellate, stipitate, placentation parietal.
|
Fruit
|
Fruit a berry or rarely a capsule.
|
Seeds
|
Seeds numerous, with reticulate testa and aromatic, succulent, edible aril.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
|
The name Passiflora, or passion flower, is derived from the floral morphology that, to the early Spanish explorers, bore signs of the passion of Christ.
|
Contributor
|
Nancy Khan
|
