Passiflora edulis
Fruit of Passiflora edulis, left forma flavicarpa right format edulis
Passiflora edulis is a kind of scoring from the passion flower family ( Passifloraceae ) species of passion flower (Passiflora ). The Style epithet edulis means " edible". Within the species different varieties and forms are distinguished, among which forma edulis (Purple ) and format flavicarpa ( Yellow Granadilla ) have the greatest economic importance. Fruits of both forms are also in Central Europe in the commercial where they usually are referred to as passion fruit or passion fruit ( also spelled Marakuja or Maracujá ).
Dissemination and cultivation
Passiflora edulis is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. Because of the fruits but it is now cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and has among the edible passion flower species, the largest commercial significance. Forma edulis is cold compatible than f flavicarpa and is therefore also at higher altitudes ( 1000-2300 m) grown rather than the latter. F. flavicarpa, unlike f edulis, resistant to infection by Fusarium and soil- living nematodes and plantations, therefore, is partially used as a base for f edulis. There are also grown hybrids of the two forms, in addition, there are other varieties.
Description
Passiflora edulis is a woody climbing plant whose shoots are up to 10 m long. With tendrils they can anchor themselves to appropriate supports. The dark green upper side glossy, finely serrated leaves are alternate, 3 -lobed (also ungelappt in young plants ) and reach 5 to 25 cm in length and width.
The diameter of the flower ( with 5 stamens) is between 6 and 8 cm. The perianth of 5 sepals ( upper side white, the under side greenish) formed and 5 white petals. The 4 - to 5 -row, corrugated halo (corona ) is purple at the base ( at f flavicarpa darker than f edulis ), otherwise white. The f edulis is - in contrast to the need of cross-pollination f flavicarpa - self-fertile.
The fruit is a berry. The shell is in the up egg-sized, spherical to oval fruits of f edulis brown - purple and wrinkled when ripe. When f flavicarpa are the oval to egg-shaped fruits significantly larger (usually 8-12 cm long) and yellow and smooth skin when ripe. Inside you will find numerous seeds ( at f edulis black, with f flavicarpa brown), the ( also referred to as pulp ) each of a juicy jelly-like, yellow-orange aril are surrounded.
Use and ingredients
The edible fruit of Passiflora edulis be used for raw consumption and into juice and also exported to Europe. The fruits of f flavicarpa are slightly less aromatic than those of f edulis and better suited due to their higher acidity for juicing. The fruits of f edulis, however, are the most commonly offered in Central European supermarkets " passion fruit ". Use place the fruit in different dessert or Eiszubereitungen.
The juice of passion fruit contains sugar (sucrose, glucose, fructose ) and organic acids ( predominantly citric acid and malic acid). The vitamin C content is on average about 30 to 50 mg/100 ml, also niacin and riboflavin is present in significant quantities. Below the existing carotenoids dominated beta -carotene. For the aromatic taste particular, a series of volatile esters is responsible (eg ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, Hexylbutanoat, Hexylhexanoat or ethyl hexanoate ).
From the seeds of Passiflora edulis, an oil is obtained, which finds application in, among other cosmetic products ( sunscreen, massage oils). Main ingredients are linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid.
Among other Passifloraceen the leaves of Passiflora edulis are used as a diuretic, inflammation or sedative in asthma in South America. In Passion Flower preparations for calming purposes or as a sleep -promoting agent contained flavonoids ( common available preparations, however, are based on Passiflora incarnata ) were also in leaves of Passiflora edulis detected.
P. edulis f edulis: open fruit
P. edulis f flavicarpa: Fruit closed and opened