Passiflora vitifolia
Kunth
Grape-leaved passionfruit, Scarlet passion-flower
(c) Nelsy Niño R, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nelsy Niño R
(c) Reinaldo Aguilar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
(c) scott.zona, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
Fruit - raw and made into juices. A juicy pulp with an acidic flavour. The ovoid fruit is about 5cm in diameter.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows naturally along the edges of forest in the Amazon in Brazil. It needs moderate moisture and an average, well-drained soil. It needs full or part sun. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to about 1,000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Amazon, Andes, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guiana, Hawaii, Nicaragua*, Pacific, Panama, Peru, South America, USA,
How to Identify
A climbing plant which keeps growing from year to year. The stems have rust coloured hairs. The leaves are deeply 3 lobed. They are 13-18 cm long. There are teeth around the edge. The flowers occur singly. They are 12-16 cm across. The flower petals are bright red. They are pointed. The sepals have needle like bits at the tips. The fruit are mottled green and white and are round. They are 4-5 cm across.
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed.
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.
Medicinal Uses
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.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Passiflora vitifolia, the perfumed passionflower, is a species of Passiflora native to southern Central America and northwestern South America.
Other Information
The fruit are not popular. It is cultivated.
Notes
There are about 400 Passiflora species.
Names & Synonyms
Estococa, Etasere, Granadilla del monte, Granadilla silvestre, Guate, Gulupa, Inda pojo, Ofetata, Otsi-viccocho, Pisijoro, Pukucha granadilla, Tssotssoccuru, Wanpishkur
References (19)
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