Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata L.)

Name

Passiflora incarnata L.

Other Common Names:

Apricot Vine, Moypop & Wild Passionflower

Habitat:

Seeds that were thousands of years old were found around Virginia, where the Algonkian Indians thrived. Early European settlers have records of the Algonkian Indians eating the passionflower fruit

Description

P. incarnata, in the Passifloriaceae family is a perennial climbing vine with generally 3 lobed, palmate leaves sporting, according to the late herbalist Michael Moore, "complicated but comely flowers." Indeed, the flowers are quite striking, flamboyantly displaying five stamens and three stigmas which "protrude from the flower's center like the antennae of a spaceship" writes Steven Foster. Further, there are five petals and sepals, and a collar of threadlike, frilly, lavender colored, coronal filaments.

Uses

The Cherokee used P. incarnata root extensively for a variety of purposes. Additionally, various parts of the plants, including the fruits, were made into a beverage, and the leaves and young tendrils were boiled or fried and eaten. Various indigenous groups were known to use the plant as a topical poultice. P. incarnata has had documented uses in Europe going back to 1787. In the spirit world, passionflower has been used as a magical charm to attract friendships and to bring peace, and the leaves can be placed in a house to illicit harmony and lessens discord.

Above ground parts (the entire vine including leaves, stems and flowers) are dried used as a tea or tincture.