Tropical Plant "Maracuja-de-cobra"
Passiflora tenuifila

Characteristics - Passiflora tenuifila is not cultivated nor frequent in its natural habitat, along the edges of brushy areas, isolated tree “islands” (of forest) and forests in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul. It is a semi-perennial, herbaceous climber (with tendrils), glabrous, the older caulis in cilindrical and striate, the newer caulis is subangular; stipules foliaceous, semi-oblong, glaucescent on the abaxial surface, 2.5-3.5 cm long. Leaves trilobite, membranaceous, glaucescent on the abaxial surface, serrate glandular on the sinus, from 3.0-7.5 cm long with 2.5-5.5 cm petiole that has 2-6 glands distributed along the length of it. Flowers solitary, 4-5 cm in diameter, form from August to October. Fruits have a juicy pulp, sweet tasting, with a garlic flavor and a spongy skin; they ripen from September – December.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state and are not widely appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.