The passion fruit flower Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa O. Deg. 1932 is from the Passiflora edulis variety, which produces yellow passion fruits. The epithet edulis means edible and as the purple fruits of Passiflora edulis are sweet, the yellow variety Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa is sour and mostly used to produce juice or jam. Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa is a tropical vine and can reach a length up to about 10 meters. The tropical plant is native to South America and the stunning flower has been ennobled to the national flower of Paraguay.

The name Passiflora, translated as passion flower was given by missionaries as parts of the flower are reminiscent of the torture (passion) of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion. The three stigmas are reminescent of the three nails in Jesus’s hands and feet, the threads of the flower reflect the crown of thorns, the five anthers represent the five wounds and the tendrils of the passion fruit plant are seen as the whips.

Flower Photography © The Foodist
Image: Passionfruit Flower (Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa)

Passionflowers (Passiflora) at Orchids Flowers.com:

Passiflora incarnata

Passiflora Blue Eyed Susan

Passiflora Lady Margaret

Passiflora foetida

Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa

Passiflora miniata