Passiflora caerulea L. (aka Blue Crown Passion Flower)

Synonyms

Habitat

Location

Native to southern Brazil and Argentina + worldwide cultivations

Description

"Plant glabrous and often glaucus throughout; stipules semi-ovate; petioles 2-6-glandular, the glands stipitate; blades palmately 5 (rarely 3, 7 or 9)-lobed nearly to the base, the lobes linear-oblong to broadly ovate-oblong, up to 10 cm long, usually obtuse, entire; bracts broadly ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, borne close to the flower base; flowers up to 10 cm wide, white or pinkish; calyx tube cup-shaped, the sepals and petals oblong; corona filaments in 4 series, those of the 2 outer radiate, from a half to as long as the petals, blue at the apex, white at the middle, purple at the base, the inner filaments much shorter; operculum filamentose part way; fruit ovoid or subglobose, about 4 cm in diameter, seeds coarsely reticulate." (Macbride, 1941)

Dispersal methods

Seed. Fruits eaten and spread by mammals and birds.

Uses

Fruit is eaten fresh or used in drinks. A tea can be made of the flower and is said to alleviate stress and anxiety.