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What is a Passion Flower?

Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

A passion flower is the flower of the Passiflora plant, of which there are about 500 species. Most grow on vines, but some Passiflora species are shrubs. The flower has an elaborate, exotic appearance, and its name refers to the Passion of Jesus Christ, as various elements of the flower are said to represent elements of Jesus' life. Many of these plants also yield a tropical fruit known as passion fruit.

Plants in the Passiflora genus cover a wide geographical range, appearing in North and South America, Asia, and Australia. Africa features many plants in the Passifloraceae family, of which the passion flower plants are a member, although no Passiflora species grow there. Since the Victorian era, when the flower enjoyed significant popularity, many hybrids have been created.

Passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
Passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.

While there are many different types of these flower, ranging in color from pinks, purples, and reds to white and yellow shades, most have some notable elements in common. There are almost always ten sepals and petals at the base of the flower, a corona of 72 hairlike filaments above the petals, and stigma and anthers, the sexual organs of the flower, protruding from the center. The flower has evolved to attract pollinators, in most cases bees, but sometimes hummingbirds or wasps. A few species are self-pollinating.

Golden passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
Golden passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish missionaries in the Americas discovered the passion flower and developed the symbolism that gives the flower its name. The ten sepals and petals are said to represent ten of the apostles, not counting Doubting Thomas or Judas, who betrayed Christ. The corona represents Jesus' crown of thorns, the three stigma mirror the number of nails used in the crucifixion, and the five anthers represent the number of His wounds.

Elements of Jesus' life are said to be represented in a passion flower.
Elements of Jesus' life are said to be represented in a passion flower.

Since before the arrival of Europeans, Passiflora has been an important medicinal plant to the Native Americans. A tea made from the plant is used to treat insomnia and epilepsy and to alleviate pain. The flower, like the passion fruit, can also be eaten raw or used in recipes. Today, the passion flower has been adopted as a signifier for homosexual youths in Japan, where it is called the "clock-faced flower".

Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a WiseGEEK editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a WiseGEEK editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

naturesgurl3

@planch -- I'm not sure on making a passion flower (passiflora) tincture, but I know that to make passion flower herb tea, you take anywhere from half a gram to two and a half grams of passion flower parts (I think you just use the actual flower, not the passion flower leaves), and steep it in boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes. You can drink this up to three times a day.

However a word of caution -- passion flower supplements may interact with other sedatives, so don't combine them unless your doctor says its OK. Also, they're not sure about the side effects of passion flower supplements on pregnant women, so talk with your gyno before taking any passion flower teas or supplements.

Best of luck!

Planch

I have heard a lot recently about passion flower herbal supplements. I was wondering if anybody know what parts of the passion flower were used to make a passion flower tincture, and whether I could use a purple Maypop passion flower to make one at home?

Thank you for your information!

rallenwriter

I loved how you didn't get stuck in one culture's interpretation of the passion flower. I love growing passion flowers from seeds, and I'm really into their symbolism as well.

I knew of course about the representation of the Passion of Christ, but I had no idea that these flowers were also associated with homosexuality in Japan -- very, very interesting.

Awesome research, and very well-written.

anon109295

this is the most accurate website I've ever gone to. i love it. --linda

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    • Passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
      Passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
    • Golden passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
      Golden passion fruit, the fruit of a passion flower.
    • Elements of Jesus' life are said to be represented in a passion flower.
      By: poco_bw
      Elements of Jesus' life are said to be represented in a passion flower.
    • Passion flower tea is used to treat insomnia.
      By: Dan Race
      Passion flower tea is used to treat insomnia.
    • Symbolically, the three stigma of the passion flower represent the nails used in the crucifixion of Christ.
      By: wajan
      Symbolically, the three stigma of the passion flower represent the nails used in the crucifixion of Christ.
    • Passion flower is also known as passiflora incarnata.
      By: tdlucas5000
      Passion flower is also known as passiflora incarnata.