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Genus Passiflora Family Passifloraceae

Description: Herbaceous or woody climbers with simple axillary tendrils.

Leaves simple and lamina palmately lobed or rarely unlobed [or leaves compound]; petiole at least half as long as lamina, commonly 2–4 raised glands present; stipules rarely persistent, mostly linear and small on native species, sometimes leafy or absent.

Flowers bisexual, axillary, mostly 1 or 2 together, sometimes more. Sepals and petals often highly and similarly coloured. Corona composed of outer appendages and mostly a flat or folded inner corona. Nectariferous disc often at the base of the androgynophore. Stamens mostly 5, on androgynophore, filaments free, at first erect, later usually reflexed; anthers versatile.

Fruit a berry.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 400 species, mainly America, some Asia, Australia, & Madagascar (1 species). Australia: 12 species (3 species native), all States except S.A.

*Passiflora coccinea Aubl. is known from one collection from an old garden north of Coffs Harbour (NC), it does not appear to be fully naturalized. It has rounded, crenate leaves that are densely pubescent on lower surface, 5–10 cm long and 4–6 cm wide. Flowers up to 8 cm diam. with reflexed deep red petals.

Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Passiflora miniata,    Passiflora tarminiana

 Key to the species 
1Leaves mostly deeply 5–lobed, rarely 3- or 7-lobed; glands 2–4, c. midway along petiole2
Leaves usually 3-lobed, occasionally either unlobed or 5-lobed; glands usually towards apex of petiole, rarely absent, or occasionally c. midway along petiole3
2Margins of leaves not toothed; stipules 10–20 mm long, leafy; plants entirely glabrousPassiflora caerulea
Margins of leaves toothed; stipules to 8 mm long, not leafy; stems, petioles and sometimes leaves hairy
                       Back to 1
Passiflora filamentosa
3Stipules leafy, wide, 10–30 mm long, usually persistent4
Stipules not leafy, usually narrow, less than 10 mm long, rarely persistent, or stipules absent
                       Back to 1
5
4Plants glabrous; leaves with margins of lobes more or less entire; petiole with 1–3 filiform glands c. midway along petiole, each 0.5–2 mm longPassiflora subpeltata
Young stems and leaves with scattered hairs; leaves with margins of lobes shallowly toothed; petiole with 2 thick, stalked glands towards apex, each 1.5–2 mm long
                       Back to 3
Passiflora morifolia
5Glands absent from petiole6
Glands present on petiole
                       Back to 3
7
6Plant hairy, hairs simple and glandular, often golden-brown and bristlyPassiflora foetida
Plant glabrous
                       Back to 5
Passiflora cinnabarina
7Margins of leaves regularly toothed8
Margins of leaves not toothed
                       Back to 5
10
8Plant glabrousPassiflora edulis
Stems, petioles and at least one surface of the leaves hairy
                       Back to 7
9
9Petiole with several small, inconspicuous glandsPassiflora mollissima
Petiole with 2 thick, stipitate glands, 1.5–2 mm long. Rarely naturalized in CC
                       Back to 8
Passiflora morifolia
10Petioles with 2 raised glands near the middlePassiflora suberosa
Petioles with 2 glands near the apex
                       Back to 7
11
11Stems, petioles and lower surface of leaves finely hairy, sometimes sparsely soPassiflora herbertiana
Plant glabrous
                       Back to 10
Passiflora aurantia

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