common passion flower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Killip
• Passionflower
• love-in-a-mist
• love-in-a-mist passionflower
• mossy passionflower
• running pop
• stinking granadilla
• stinking passionflower
• stinking passionfruit
• wild passionfruit
• wild water-lemon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tripsilina foetida
• Dysosmia foetida
• Granadilla foetida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Passifloraceae and falls under the genus Passiflora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Passiflora foetida, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in West Tropical Africa. Its presence has been documented in the nation of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. It is also found within the borders of Burkina, contributing to the region's botanical diversity. Furthermore, the species extends its range into Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's established footprint throughout this part of the African continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Passiflora foetida is characterized by a broad and adaptable distribution across diverse environmental settings, ranging from low-lying areas to higher altitudes. It thrives in a variety of habitats, including Anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), rocky fields (Campo Rupestre), and Ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial). This versatility is reflected in its significant elevational range, which begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 2200 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 400 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Passiflora foetida are characterized by a specific chromosomal architecture and varying karyotypic configurations. The species exhibits a chromosome number that varies among different accessions or populations, documented as 18, 20, or 22. Despite this numerical variation, the plant typically maintains a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that the observed differences in chromosome counts are likely due to structural rearrangements or aneuploidy rather than polyploidization events.

Chromosome number :

18, 20, 22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Passiflora foetida is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, the species is identified as a therophyte, a life form defined by completing its main biological functions through a seasonal cycle where the plant survives unfavorable periods as ephemeral structures. This growth habit enables the plant to rapidly colonize available niches and respond dynamically to environmental fluctuations throughout its life cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Passiflora foetida is characterized by its growth as a woody, independent herb and forb that functions as an obligatory climbing vine. This terrestrial plant, which does not exhibit epiphytic or parasitic behaviors, typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 4 m, with a mean height of approximately 2.5 m. As a climbing liana-like vine, it relies on external structures for support to navigate its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Passiflora foetida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard vegetative structure without specialized water-storing tissues, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Morphologically, its leaf physiology is supported by leaves that vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, and widths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

2.3 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Passiflora foetida is characterized by the production of distinct violet flowers that facilitate the development of its fruit. The resulting fruit is classified as a fleshy berry and is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These berries vary in size, with a maximum fruit length of 2.8 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.8 cm) and a maximum width of 3.5 cm (with a minimum width of 1.5 cm). Within these fleshy fruits, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.009667 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00495 g to a maximum of 0.0131 g. The seeds maintain a consistent volume of 8.2 mm³, which is both the minimum and maximum measured value. To ensure the spread of the species, Passiflora foetida employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport its fleshy fruits to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.8 cm

Fruit length min:

1.8 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

3.5 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0131 g

Seed mass mean:

0.009667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00495 g

Seed volume max:

8.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Passiflora foetida has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Ancient science of life

Stem

1. Journal of natural medicines

Chemicals

Passiflora foetida has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, Flavonoids, IRON.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Saponins

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Sterols

1. Ancient science of life

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Passiflora foetida has 204 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Androgenic?.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCTS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Passiflora foetida has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Neurasthenia, asthma, neurological disorders, xanthine oxidase.

Neurasthenia

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Asthma

1. Ancient science of life

Neurological disorders

1. Ancient science of life

Xanthine oxidase

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Preparations

Passiflora foetida has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanol extracts.

Extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of natural medicines