Passion fruit

Perennial vine. Fast-growing (up to 7m per year). Short-lived (max. 7 years). Flowers 5-8 cm wide, at each node of the climbing plant. 5 green sepals and 5 white/purple petals. Fruit (botanically a berry) entirely fleshy, outside colour from dark-purple with fine white specks to light yellow, 4-8 cm in diameter. Within the berry, typically 250 black edible seeds, each of them surrounded by a membranous sac filled with pulpy juice. Flavour slightly acidic. Edible.

Native to Southern Brazil, Paraguay and Northern Argentinia. Today cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas.

The flower is a sedative when made into a tea.

The flower of the Passion fruit was known by Spanish missionaries as the “Flor de las cinco lagas” (Flower of the five wounds) because it illustrated the crucifixion of Christ. Hence, the name “Passion fruit” was originated. In Portugese, Passion fruit is called “maracujà”, after a Native American word which is not so pleasant 😉