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Passiflora vitifolia Passiflora vitifolia Kunth
Crimson Passion Flower, Grape-leaved Passion Fruit, Perfumed Passionflower, Vine-Leaf Passion Flower
The crimson passion flower is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, in South and Central America. It is becoming naturalized in Hawaii, but is not found in the wild elsewhere in North America. Identification: These evergreen vines reach 25' (7.6 m) in length. The vine extends tendrils that encircle supports, then coils them like springs to achieve a more robust grasp. This species’ leaves resemble grape leaves, hence the name vitifolia. Dark green leaves have three lobes, and fuzzy undersides. Beautiful red flowers are 5-6" (12-15 cm) in diameter, with 10 petals. (Okay, technically, there are five petals and five petal-like sepals.) Fruits are egg-shaped, green with yellow or white spots, soft and juicy.
Passiflora vitifolia flower, by Density. Edibility: Fully ripened fruits taste similar to sour strawberries, and are tasty when sweetened. Online References:
Passiflora vitifolia on Forest & Kim Starr's Plants of Hawaii site Passiflora vitifolia on Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers Passiflora vitifolia at SAGEBUD Passiflora vitifolia on Wikimedia Commons Passiflora vitifolia on Desert-tropicals.com Passiflora vitifolia at Gymnosperms.org Passiflora vitifolia at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Passiflora vitifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 22 Feb 2012. © FloraFinder.com. All rights reserved. |
3/11/2005 · Costa Rica Range: Zones 10-12:
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