Back
Passiflora foetida L.
| Family Name: | Passifloraceae |
| Common Name: | Running Pop, Love-in-a-mist, Wild Water Lemon, Stinking Passionflower |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 3.5 m to 5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South America |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous climber grows up to 1.5-6 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Large, hairy leaves are usually tri-lobed with ovate to angular lobes. They are spirally arranged with one leaf per node. Crushed leaves produce an unpleasant odour. Leaves are cyanogenic (produces cyanide) and toxic. |
| Stems | Stems are round and hairy. |
| Flowers | White flowers are marked with a ring of radially oriented purple streaks. Blossoms open in the morning, but close by about noon. This species is free-flowering. They have a minty fragrance. |
| Fruit | Red or orange, ellipsoid fruits have fleshy pulp and small, black seeds. Fruits are surrounded by finely dissected, needle-like bracts. Although young fruits are toxic and cyanogenic, ripe fruits are edible and taste like Passiflora edulis fruits. |
| Habitat | Found in the Amazon rainforest and mountain ranges along the coast. This species is a weed in rice paddies and other crop fields. |
| Cultivation | This species should be planted in fertile, well-drained soil. It is susceptible to the passionfruit mosaic virus. |
| Etymology | The species epithet "foetida" refers to the foul smell released by crushed leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): In Surinam and Java, young leaves are cooked and consumed as a vegetable. However, uncooked leaves may be toxic. Medicinal: Leaf extracts contain anti-inflammatory compounds and provided pain relief in mice. Agriculture - Forestry: In the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, it is planted as a soil cover in crop fields to reduce erosion and prevent the spread of weedy grasses, such as Imperata cylindrica. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Trellis / Arbour / Pergola |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Palmately Lobed |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 170 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1466 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
