Passion-flower family
Description
A family of herbaceous and woody plants, usually climbing by tendrils, occurring in all tropical regions, but most abundant in South America (Passifloraceae 1).
Leaves alternate, entire or lobed, with small stipules. The flowers are regular, often showy, with 5 sepals which are basally fused, and 5 petals which are sometimes absent. There may be a corona (Passifloraceae 2) of petal-like or stamen-like growths inside the corolla. Usually there are 5 stamens and a superior ovary. The fruit is a berry or capsule, indehiscent, with many seeds, each surrounded by a fleshy aril.
There are about 20 genera.
Use
The genus Passiflora yields a variety of edible fruits
Described species
Passiflora edulis, passion fruit
Passiflora quadrangularis, giant grenadilla, see Passiflora edulis
Passiflora laurifolia, yellow grenadilla or water lemon, see Passiflora edulis
Passiflora ligularis, sweet grenadilla, see Passiflora edulis