Tropical Plant "Blue passion fruit"
Passifora caerulea

Characteristics - The blue passion flower is a fruit bearer, occasionally cultivated as an ornamental and frequent in its natural habitat, on the edges of secondary vegetation and forests throughout eastern Brazil, mainly in the tree southern states where it has become almost endemic. It is an herbaceous, perennial climber, entirely glabrous, with caulis subangular and striate; foliacious stipules, semi-ovate, 1.5-2.0 cm long, are inserted laterally on the caulis. Leaves simple, 3-5-7-9 palmatifid, membranaceous, glaucescent on the abaxial surface, with 2 pairs of lands on the sinuses of the lobes and a 2-5 cm petiole with 2-4 glands. Flowers solitary, 7-10 cm in diameter, form from October to February. Fruits have a carnose pulp and slightly sweet flavor.

Uses - Fruits are consumed in their natural state but are not widely appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.