Passiflora Herb Cut (Passion Flower Herb)

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 or cultivated

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's 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:

Hot Infusion:

The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. Hot water is needed to draw out the antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oils from the botanicals. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:

• You can sweeten your herbal tea with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.
• You can make ice cubes or pops by freezing tea in ice trays or pop molds.

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.