Passiflora caerulea

Blue passion flower ( Passiflora caerulea)

The Blue Passion Flower ( Passiflora caerulea) is a species of the species-rich genus of passion vines ( Passiflora ) in the family of the passion flower plants ( Passifloraceae ). The home is the northern Argentina and southern Brazil. The Blue Passion Flower can be used as a houseplant.

• 3.1 cultivation

• 5.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The Blue Passion flower is a climbing, perennial, herbaceous plant. The stem is usually pencil -shaped to somewhat edgy and always hairless. The alternate on the stem are arranged distributed leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The 2-3 cm long petioles usually have two to four, rarely up to six small glands, there are extra-floral nectaries that precipitate easily recognizable drops of nectar. The herbaceous, smooth leaf blade base is heart-shaped and usually has five (three to nine ) lobes. The lobes are ovate -oblong and entire, with the middle lobe is always slightly longer than the lateral ones. The kidney-shaped stipules are about 1.2 inches tall and have a wavy edge.

Generative features

The inflorescence is a reduced Zyme, the central flower is not formed, a side branch is transformed into a tendril and blossom, the vine is over. The broadly ovate bracts are 2-3 cm tall and entire. The flower stalk is 3-4 cm long.

The fragrant, hermaphrodite, radial symmetry, five petals have a diameter of 6 to 10 cm. The five free sepals are light green outside and white inside and 3 to 4.5 cm long with a 2 to 3 mm long tip. The five free petals are white to light green, and 2.5 to 4 cm long. Further inside, followed by the so-called halo, these are arranged in three or four circles filiform, intensely colored staminodes. The staminodes of the outer two circles are 0.6 to 1.5 cm long, at the base of dark purple, white in the middle and light blue at the top. The inner one or two circles staminodes are 1-2 mm long, white at the base and light green at the top. The operculum is also thread-like with dark purple cloth. It is a ring- shaped nectary present. The discus is 1 to 2 mm high. Five fertile stamens and the gynoecium are combined into a column, the so-called Androgynophor; it is 8 to 10 mm high and rises above the sterile flower parts far. There are five fertile stamens present. The free stamens are flat and about 1 cm long. The oblong anthers are about 1.3 cm long. The three carpels grown together, standing on the fertile stamens ovary is oval to spherical. The three free pen are purple, 6-8 mm long and end in kidney-shaped scars. The flower is interpreted as Christian: the five stamens than the wounds of Christ, the three stigmas as the crucifixion nails and the aureole the "Crown of Thorns ", the genus was given the name passion flower. The heyday of natural forms usually ranges from May to July and the varieties have different bloom times.

The edible berries are great at Ripe orange - yellow or yellow, ovate or nearly spherical and about 6 cm. It contains many seeds, which are about 5 mm.

System

The species name Passiflora caerulea was first published in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, 2, pp. 959-960. Synonyms for Passiflora caerulea L. are: Granadilla caerulea (L.) Medik, Passiflora caerulea Lour, Passiflora caerulea var angustifolia G.Don, Passiflora caerulea var glauca mast, Passiflora caerulea var imbricata mast, Passiflora caerulea var. .. .. regnellii mast., Passiflora loureiroi G.Don, Passiflora selloi Dehnh ..

Use

The ripe fruits are eaten raw or it is a fruit juice obtained therefrom. Unripe fruits can be eaten only after cooking. The Pulpus tastes sour.

Cultivation

Gardeners have read from the Blue Passion Flower ( Passiflora caerulea) already many clones, some examples are ' Constance Eliott ' ( The white flowers smell stronger than other varieties), ' Chinensis ', ' Gala', 'Wild Brazil ', ' Spyder ', ' Majorca ' and ' Pierre Pomie '.

Passiflora caerulea is relatively easy to care for and thrives as a houseplant as well as in a greenhouse or outdoors. Young plants are up to - 15 ° C frost resistant, even older specimens up to lower temperatures, therefore P. caerulea can be planted outdoors in Central Europe. In the greenhouse or on the windowsill she develops in the Luminous months to an impressive plant.

More problematic is the winter as a houseplant (outdoor die from aerial parts and drive in the spring once more.) As solar plant Passiflora caerulea requires a lot of light in the winter. As a climber Passiflora caerulea needed trellises. The available in most stores form the rolled to a wire ring shoots is less favorable and will soon be too small for the new shoots. Are recommended rather large, erect structures.,

Gallery

Passiflora caerulea:

P. caerulea, flower bud, leaves and tendrils sprout.

Sheet.

Flower bud.

Cut flower bud.

Flower from above.

Androgynophor.

Androgynophor.

Flower and leaf withers.

Open, ripe fruit with orange peel.

Swell

• Yinzheng Wang, Shawn E. Krosnick & Peter Møller Jørgensen: Passiflora in the Flora of China, Volume 13, p 146: Passiflora caerulea - Online.