Bluecrown passionflower
Passiflora caerulea
The complex flower structure was used by Spanish missionaries to teach the story of the Passion of Christ, with the radial corona representing the crown of thorns.
- Scientific name
- Passiflora caerulea
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Passifloraceae › Passiflora
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Forest edges, riparian zones, scrublands, and disturbed areas.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, requiring sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Southern Europe (introduced), United States (introduced)
- Size
- Climbing vine reaching lengths of 10 to 25 meters (33 to 82 feet).
- Lifespan
- 10-20 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation in its native range, though it is highly resilient and considered an invasive weed in some introduced regions.
- Safe to approach?
- Safe to touch and admire. Do not ingest the raw leaves, stems, or unripe green fruits, as they contain cyanogenic glycosides which are toxic to humans and pets. If ingested, seek medical or veterinary assistance immediately.
Passiflora caerulea , the blue passionflower , bluecrown passionflower or common passion flower , is a species of flowering plant native to South America (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil). It is a vigorous, deciduous or semi-evergreen tendril vine growing to 10 m (33 ft) or more, with palmate leaves and fragrant, blue-white flowers with a prominent fringe of coronal filaments in bands of blue, white, and brown. The ovoid orange fruit, growing to 6 cm (2 in), is edible but bland.
Photo: Stephen Thorpe, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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