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Maypop
Passiflora incarnata flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. incarnata
Binomial name
Passiflora incarnata L.

Maypop (Passiflora incarnata L.), also known as Purple passionflower, True passionflower, Wild apricot, and Wild passion vine, is a fast growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the Maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is a common wildflower in the southern United States. The Cherokee in the Tennessee area called it ocoee; the Ocoee River and valley are named after this plant, which is the Tennessee State Wildflower. ^[1]

The stems can be smooth or pubescent; they are long and trailing, possessing many tendrils. Leaves are alternate and palmately 3-lobed, measuring from 6-15 cm. They have two characteristic glands at the base of the blade on the petiole. Flowers have five bluish-white petals. They exhibit a white and purple corona, a structure of fine appendages between the petals and corolla. The large flower is typically arranged in a ring above the petals and sepals. They are pollinated by insects such as bumblebees, and are self-sterile. The flower normally blooms in July.

The fleshy fruit, also in itself called a Maypop, is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg; it is green at first, but then becomes orange as it matures. As with other passifloras, it is the larval food of a number of butterfly species, including the zebra longwing and Gulf Fritillary. In many cases its fruit is very popular with wildlife.

Traditionally, the fresh or dried whole plant has been used as a herbal medicine to treat nervous anxiety and insomnia.^[2] The dried, ground herb is frequently used in Europe by drinking a teaspoon of it in tea. A sedative chewing gum has even been produced. In cooking, the fruit of this variety is sometimes used for jam and jellies or as a substitute for its commercially grown South American brother, Passiflora edulis (the fruit is of comparable size and juice yield.) The fruit can be eaten out of hand and when encountered makes a very tasty (but very seedy) snack: historically it was a favorite of colonial settlers of the South and Native Americans alike.

The Maypop occurs in thickets, disturbed areas, near riverbanks, and near unmowed pastures, roadsides, and railroads. It thrives in areas with lots of available sunlight. It is not found in shady areas beneath a forest canopy.

References

• Floridata.com: Passiflora incarnata
• Passiflora incarnata: information and pictures
• University of Florida Extension
• USDA plant profile for Purple passionflower includes photographs of flowers and fruits.
• Plant and herbal information By Stephen Foster.

Maypop pollination

Passiflora incarnata, fruit at mid-summer

From Wikispecies

Passiflora incarnata

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales
Familia: Passifloraceae
Genus: Passiflora
Subgenus: P. subg. Passiflora
Supersection: P. supersect. Passiflora
Serie: P. ser. Passiflora
Species: Passiflora incarnata

Name

Passiflora incarnata L., 1753.

Synonyms

Homotypic

• Granadilla incarnata (L.) Medik., Malv. 96. 1787.

Heterotypic

• Passiflora edulis var. kerii (Spreng.) Mast., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 27: 637. 1871.
• Passiflora incarnata f. alba Waterf., Rhodora 52: 35. 1950.
• Passiflora incarnata var. integriloba DC., Prodr. 3:329. 1828.
• Passiflora kerii Spreng., Syst. Veg. vol. 2, 39. 1826.

References

• Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 959. 1753.
• Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 16 Feb 2009 [1].