Passiflora capsularis

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

Fruit - eaten raw, prepared as a juice and used in desserts. The pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. The fruit is a reddish, vinaceous, purple or dark-pink capsule 21 - 70mm long and 5 - 24mm wide.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Argentina, Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba*, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles*, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, South America*, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Indies*,

How to Identify

A creeper. The leaves have 2 long narrowing lobes pointing away from the stem. The fruit are angular.

How to Grow

Passiflora capsularis is native to the subtropical and tropical regions of S. America. It is able to tolerate occasional light frosts. Passiflora species generally grow best in a sheltered, sunny position or in dappled shade. Most species are found in the wild in moist but well-drained soils, generally of a lighter texture, and will often flower and fruit more heavily if the soil fertility is low. They often develop deep roots and can be moderately tolerant of dry spells. Most Passiflora species prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline soil, growing best where the pH is around 6. 5 - 7.5. The plant flowers all year round and ripens its fruit through most of the year.

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe along with the pulp which will help break down the seed coat and speed up germination. Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours in warm water and germination time can be reduced if the seed is then mixed with the juice of a fresh passion fruit (of any species). Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24°c. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough. Cuttings of young shoots, taken at the nodes. The cuttings root best in a neutral to slightly acid compost, but 100% sharp sand also produces good results. Cuttings of fully mature wood taken at a node. They can take 3 months. Layering. Very easy. Air layering. Leaf bud cuttings.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are abortifacient. The roots are emmenagogues. The seeds are soporific and can cause stupors. The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer. We have no specific information for this species but many species are used in herbal infusions to calm the nerves and help bring about a restful sleep. The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas.

Passiflora capsularis is a member of the family Passifloraceae with vanilla scented, delicate white flowers around 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. It produces unusual looking ribbed ellipsoid fruits reddish purple in color, which are not edible. It grows readily in tropical climates, tolerating down to 5 °C and even lower for short spells. It flowers and grows readily even in small pots.

More from Passifloraceae

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