Botanical Name: Passiflora incarnata

Common Name:

English: Passiflora, Passion flower
Also, known as: Apricot Vine, Flor De La Pasión, Fleischfarbene Passionsblume, Fiore Della Passione, Fleur De La Passion, Grenadille, Maracujá, May Apple, May Flower, May-Pop, Pasionaria, Passiflora, Passiflora Roja, Passiflore, Passion Vine, Rose-Coloured Passion Flower, Water Lemon, White Passion Flower, Wild Passion Flower, Purple passionflower, and Purple passion vine.

Origin: India

Harvested: Wild

Parts Used: Aerial parts

General Information:

Passiflora incarnata, is a perennial, creeping herb, climbing vine by means of axillary tendrils. It is woody in warm winter climates and herbaceous in cold winter climates. The vines can grow from 6 to 25 feet long, but generally don’t climb higher than 8 feet tall. Leaves alternate with furrowed, often twisted petioles, possessing two extra-floral nectarines at the apex; lamina 5-15 cm long, broad, green to brownish green, palmate with three to five lanceolate lobes covered with fine hairs on the lower surface; margin serrate. The white-to-purple summer-blooming flowers have a very interesting structure, including a showy corona, and grow to 2-3 inches in diameter with peduncles up to 7 cm long, arising in leaf axils, five, white, elongated petals; calyx of five thick sepals, upper surface green and with a horn-like extension. Flowers bloom in summer and are fragrant. This unusual flower is widely distributed in the Southeast, especially from Florida to Texas. Fruits are long, oval, flattened and greenish-brown containing numerous seeds 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide and 2 mm thick, with a brownish-yellow, pitted surface. Fleshy, egg-shaped, edible fruits called maypops appear in July and mature to a yellowish color in fall. Ripened maypops can be eaten fresh off the vine or made into jelly. Maypop is also a common name for this vine. Maypop name refers to the loud popping sound made when fruits are stepped on, is approximately the size of a chicken egg.

The plants were given the name Passionflower or Passion vine because the floral parts were once said to represent aspects of the Christian crucifixion story, sometimes referred to as the Passion. Though often considered a weed in its habitat, the plant is used in horticultural applications due to its fast-growing vines and uniquely beautiful flowers. They are pollinated by bees, and are self-sterile. The fruit is commonly eaten by animals, including songbirds, which helps to distribute the seeds.

How to use:

Powdered Herb:

There are different ways to use powdered herb.

Food Preparation: You can add powdered herbs to any super food, herbal smoothie, sauces, spreads and even cookies. Also for children, you can mix powdered herbs with honey or glycerin to make a paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help the medicine go down. This method is also known as "Electuaries".

Capsules: Encapsulating your own powdered herb at home, give you assurance that the contents of the capsules are pure herb and no filler or any other products. These capsules can be taken with liquid.

Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.

Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Precautions:

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Passiflora Herb Powder (Passion Flower)