blue passionflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blue passionflower
• Blue Passionflower
• Brazilian passionflower
• blue passionfruit
• blue-crown passionflower
• Common Granadilla
• Common Grenadella
• Fiore della passione
• Grenadilla
• Passion Flower
• Passion Fruit

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Granadilla caerulea
• Passiflora caerulea var. glauca
• Passiflora chinensis
• Passiflora caerulea var. angustifolia
• Passiflora selloi
• Passiflora granadilla
• Passiflora loureiroi
• Passiflora mayana
• Passiflora caerulea var. glaucophylla
• Passiflora caerulea var. grandiflora
• Passiflora hartwiesiana
• Passiflora caerulea var. imbricata
• Passiflora caerulea var. alba
• Passiflora caerulea var. regnellii
• Passiflora stenophylla

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Passifloraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Passiflora, specifically as the species Passiflora caerulea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found growing in Germany. The species extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically throughout Spain. Finally, its range reaches into Southeastern Europe, where it is located in Albania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Passiflora caerulea is characterized by its wide adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients, spanning an elevational range from 0 m to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution allows the species to inhabit various ecological niches, ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher-altitude montane zones. While specific primary habitat classifications are often denoted as (?) in certain datasets, the plant typically thrives in disturbed areas, forest edges, and scrublands where it can utilize its climbing habit to access sunlight. Its ability to persist from sea level up to significant elevations indicates a high degree of environmental tolerance regarding temperature fluctuations and varying atmospheric pressures.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Passiflora caerulea is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground level, a life form trait that supports its climbing and spreading habit. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal changes or environmental stressors.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Passiflora caerulea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a forb, functioning as an obligatory climbing vine. This terrestrial plant exhibits a significant height range, with a minimum height of 0.91 m, a maximum height of 8 m, and a mean height of approximately 10 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

0.91 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Passiflora caerulea is characterized by specific vegetative dimensions and nutritional processes. The plant's foliage exhibits a consistent leaf width, maintaining a mean and maximum value of 2 cm, while the width never drops below this 2 cm threshold. The leaf length displays a range of developmental variability, with a minimum length of 8 cm and reaching a maximum of 12 cm. Regarding its metabolic nitrogen acquisition, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Passiflora caerulea involves both sexual and asexual processes, with the sexual phase characterized by bisexual flowers. The plant follows a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent. These berries typically measure an average of 3.5 cm in length and 4 cm in width. Each fruit is prolific, containing a high number of seeds ranging from 101 to 1000. The seeds themselves are relatively uniform in size, with a mean length of 4 mm and a mean width of 3.5 mm, and they possess a mean mass of 0.0082 g. Dispersal occurs through an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning it can be spread by human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit length mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.0082 g

Seed width mean:

3.5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Passiflora caerulea has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoorientin, Isovitexin, Vitexin, Flavonoid, Flavonoids.

Isoorientin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Isovitexin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Vitexin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Flavonoid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Orientin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Vicenin 2

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

chrysin

1. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology

Medicinal Uses

Passiflora caerulea has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colitis, inflammatory bowel disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations