Passiflora alata

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales

Familia: Passifloraceae
Genus: Passiflora
Subgenus: P. subg. Passiflora
Supersectio: P. supersect. Laurifolia
Series: P. ser. Quadrangulares
Species: Passiflora alata
Name

Passiflora alata Curtis, Bot. Mag. 2: 66. 1788.
Lectotype specimen: Botanical Magazine vol. 2, t. 66. 1788.

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Passiflora alata Dryand. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. 3: 306. 1789. nom. superfl.
Passiflora alata var. acuminata Graham, Edinburgh Philos. J. 12: 172. 1825.
Passiflora alata var. brasiliana (Desf.) Mast., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 27: 635. 1871.
Passiflora alata var. insignis Graham, Edinburgh Philos. J. 12: 172. 1825.
Passiflora alata var. latifolia (DC.) Mast., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 27: 635. 1871.
Passiflora alata var. mauritiana (Thouars) Mast., Trans. Linn. Soc. 27: 635. 1871.
Passiflora alata var. pedunculata Graham, Edinburgh Philos. J. 3: 177. 1827.
Passiflora brasiliana Desf., Cat. Pl. Hort. Paris. ed., 3: 411. 1829.
Passiflora citrifolia Salisb., Prodr. 154. 1796.
Passiflora latifolia DC., Prodr. 3: 328. 1828.
Passiflora maliformis Vell., Fl. Flumin. 9: 73. 1827., nom. illeg. non L. (1753).
Passiflora mascarensis Presl, Bot. bemerk. 72: 1844.
Passiflora mauritiana Thouars, in Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 6: 457. 1805.
Passiflora oviformis M.Roem., Fam. Nat. Syn. 2, 167: 1846.
Passiflora pyriformis DC., Prodr. 3: 331. 1828.
Passiflora sarcosépala Barbosa Rodrigues, Contr. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 4: 93. t. 15. 1907.
Passiflora tetradena Vand. in DC., Prodr. 3: 331. 1828, non Passiflora tetraden Vell.

Hybrids

P. × belottii – P. × decaisneana – P. × lawsoniana
References

Cervi, A.C. 1997: Passifloraceae do Brasil. Estudo do gênero Passiflora L., subgênero Passiflora. Fonqueria 45 :1-92.
Curtis, W. (1788) Bot. Mag. 2: 66.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. [1] (08 February 2009)

Vernacular names
English: winged-stem passion flower

Passiflora alata,[2] the winged-stem passion flower, is a species of flowering plant. It is an evergreen vine, growing to 6 m (20 ft) or more, which bears an edible type of passion fruit. It is native to the Amazon, from Peru to eastern Brazil.

Names

The local peoples refer to it as ouvaca, meaning "red star" due to the appearance of its flower. Other names include fragrant grenadilla, and maracuja de refresco.[3] The specific epithet alata means "winged", referring to the 4-winged stems.[4]
Description

The leaves are oval or oblong, 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 1–10 cm (0–4 in) wide. The fragrant flower is 7–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, with red curved tepals, and a prominent fringed corona in bands of purple and white giving the appearance of stripes.[3] It usually blooms around late summer or early fall, needing full sun exposure. P. alata attracts bees, butterflies and birds.

The solitary fruit is highly prized by local people. It is egg-shaped, yellow to bright orange, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter. It weighs from 90–300 g (3–11 oz).
Cultivation

In temperate zones P. alata is usually cultivated indoors, though it can also be grown outside in areas where the temperature does not fall below 5 °C (41 °F). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5][6]
Medicinal uses

In Brazil, P. alata is officially recognized as a phytomedicine, and was included in first edition of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia in 1929. It is well known in folk medicine throughout South America, though the exact pharmacological composition of the plant is little understood and requires more study.
References

"Passiflora alata". IPNI. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
"Passiflora alata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
"Passiflora alata". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 72. Retrieved 17 April 2018.