passionflower

pas·sion·flow·er

or passion flower P0099000 (păsh′ən-flou′ər)n. Any of various chiefly tropical tendril-bearing vines of the genus Passiflora, having large showy flowers with a fringelike crown and a conspicuous stalk bearing the stamens and pistil.

[So called because various parts were thought to recall the Passion—the filamentous corona being likened to the crown of thorns, the five anthers to the five wounds inflicted on Jesus, and the three bulbous stigmata of the pistils to the three nails used in the Crucifixion, for example .]

passionflower

(ˈpæʃənˌflaʊə) n (Plants) any passifloraceous plant of the tropical American genus Passiflora, cultivated for their red, yellow, greenish, or purple showy flowers: some species have edible fruit. See also granadilla[C17: so called from the alleged resemblance between parts of the flower and the instruments of Christ's crucifixion]

pas•sion•flow•er

(ˈpæʃ ənˌflaʊ ər)

n. any of numerous American climbing vines or shrubs of the genus Passiflora, having showy flowers and a pulpy berry or fruit that is edible in some species. [1605–15; translation of New Latin flōs passiōnis; so named because the parts of the flower were imagined as symbolic of Christ's Passion]

Thesaurus

Noun

passionflower - any of various chiefly tropical American vines some bearing edible fruitpassionflower vinepassion fruit - egg-shaped tropical fruit of certain passionflower vines; used for sherbets and confectionery and drinksgenus Passiflora, Passiflora - type genus of the PassifloraceaePassiflora edulis, purple granadillo, granadilla - Brazilian passionflower cultivated for its deep purple fruitPassiflora ligularis, sweet granadilla, granadilla - considered best for fruitgiant granadilla, granadilla, Passiflora quadrangularis - tropical American passionflower yielding the large granadilla fruitmaypop, Passiflora incarnata - of southern United States; having an insipid berry the size of a hen eggJamaica honeysuckle, Passiflora laurifolia, yellow granadilla - West Indian passionflower; cultivated for its yellow edible fruitbanana passion fruit, Passiflora mollissima - cultivated for fruitPassiflora maliformis, sweet calabash - West Indian passionflower with edible apple-sized fruitlove-in-a-mist, Passiflora foetida, running pop, wild water lemon - tropical American passion flower with finely dissected bracts; stems malodorous when crushedvine - a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

Translations

passionflower

passionflower,

any plant of the genus Passiflora, mostly tropical American vines having pulpy fruits. Some species are grown in greenhouses for their large, unusual flowers of various colors; those seen by early Spanish settlers were interpreted as symbolic of the Crucifixion (whence the name), the 10 petals and sepals, fringed corona, five stamens, three styles, and coiling tendrils representing in order the 10 faithful apostles, crown of thorns, wounds, nails, and scourges. The most common native North American species (P. incarnata), ranging as far north as Missouri and Pennsylvania, has purple-and-white flowers and edible egg-shaped fruits called maypops. Several species of the large-fruited granadillas are cultivated commercially in the tropics for fruit, flavoring, and beverages. Passionflowers are classified in the division MagnoliophytaMagnoliophyta
, division of the plant kingdom consisting of those organisms commonly called the flowering plants, or angiosperms. The angiosperms have leaves, stems, and roots, and vascular, or conducting, tissue (xylem and phloem).
..... Click the link for more information. , class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Passifloraceae.

Passionflower

Christ's Bouquet, Christ's Crown, Crown of Thorns,
Jesus' Passion, Maypop, Mother-of-God's Star,
Our Lord's Flower

The passionflower hails from the tropical zones of South and North America. Known to botanists by the scientific name Passiflora, the passionflower has acquired many other folk names, many of which refer in some way to the Easter story. These names include passionflower, Jesus' passion, Christ's bouquet, Our Lord's flower, crown of thorns, Christ's crown, maypop, and Mother-of-God's star. In the sixteenth century Spanish missionaries who had journeyed to the New World (the Americas) along with the conquistadors saw this plant for the first time and marveled at its beauty. These religious men named the new specimen "passionflower" because they perceived many symbols of Jesus'passion, that is, the story of the last days of his life, in its large, colorful blossoms. For example, they interpreted the flower's ten petals as symbols of the ten loyal apostles. This reckoning excluded the apostle Judas who betrayed Jesus, and the apostle Peter, who denied him.

The passionflower raises a striking corona, often red in color, above the center corolla. This reminded the missionaries of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head by the Roman guards. Some said that the numerous long, thread-like divisions of the corona represented the 72 thorns of the crown. Others felt that they represented the countless followers of Jesus. The flower's five stamens suggested the five wounds that Jesus received on the cross. The three styles at the center of the flower symbolized the three nails used to crucify him. The blossom's single ovary was said to represent either the vinegarsoaked sponge that Jesus was offered on the cross, or the single hammer used to drive in the nails.

Further Reading

Ewert, Neil. The Lore of Flowers. Poole, Dorset, England: Blandford Press, 1982. Lehner, Ernst, and Johanna Lehner. Folkore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees. 1960. Reprint. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 1990. Lord, Priscilla Sawyer, and Daniel J. Foley. Easter Garland. 1963. Reprint. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 1999.

Web Site

A commercial site offering botanical information and results of scientific research concerning the passionflower, print references, and further web links:

passionflower

The whole plant, including the fruit and amazing-looking flower are edible. 10 white petals with purple corona of multicolored rays, 5 stamens, and a pistil with 3 stigmas. Flowers have lots of purple threads radiating out underneath. There are different types of passionflower, and the egg shaped & sized fruits vary. One is an orange color with red gooey seeds inside (Passiflora caerulea). The other is green when ripe and contains strange seeds individually wrapped in a clear sac. (Maypop, Passiflora incarnata) Make tea from the flowers to relax, restful sleep. The whole plant is used as an antispasmotic and relaxant for anxiety, nervous disorders, epilepsy, neuralgia, insomnia, painful menses, headaches, restlessness, nervous tension, sleeping problems, inflammation, lower blood pressure.

passionflower

any passifloraceous plant of the tropical American genus Passiflora, cultivated for their red, yellow, greenish, or purple showy flowers: some species have edible fruit

passionflower

pas·sion·flow·er

passionflower

pas•sion•flow•er

passionflower

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Passionflower

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Synonyms for passionflower

noun any of various chiefly tropical American vines some bearing edible fruit

Synonyms

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