PASSION BEE

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Passion Flowers and Passion Fruit

Passion Flower [Passiflora;Disemma]

There are about 500 species of flowering plants in the Passifloraceae family. The Passiflora incarnata pictured above grows on a vine. It's unique flower structure requires a large bee to effectively pollinate it.

Unfortunately these glorious flowers only last for about a day, however they are prolific, as is the sumptuous fruit.

Besides the Fruit, Passiflora incarnata's leaves and roots have a long history of medicinal use.

 The fresh or dried leaves are used to make an infusion, a tea that is used to treat insomnia, hysteria, and epilepsy, and is also valued for its painkilling properties.  It has been found to contain beta-carboline harmala alkaloids which are MAOi's [ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors] with anti-depressant properties. Particularly effective in treating atypical depression, and have also shown efficacy in helping smokers to quit.

"Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of the Crucifixion. The 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds.

the vine is very easy to grow, likes slightly acid and well drained soil and plenty of sunshine. It will grow from cuttings and seed. In the sub-tropics the vine produces passion fruits for six months of the year.

Copyright © 1986 Ian Walker: revised: 03/16/09.

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