# What kind of a plant is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740 "2013-05-19T17:42:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/1 "2013-05-19T17:42:08Z")
Yesterday, shile I was teaching my daughter how to weed-whack the back yard, we came across a creeping vine with the strangest flower on it. [It’s quite pretty, actually,](http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=bgxs90&s=5) but a little unnerving, because I was under the impression that the only creeping vine-type plant I had in the back yard was nasturtiums (I’m not counting the star jasmine as a vine, even though it creeps the hell out of my back yard. Or something). At first, I wondered if it was the “rooster” of my nasturtium vine, and all the more traditionally nasturtium-appearing flowers were the “hens” (I know; it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, either, but heard that some plants, at least, have male and female specimens). Then I noticed that there are [some pods](http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=18j3ty&s=5) on the vine that [del]are[/del] were planning to open into similar flowers. It also has leaves that are NOT like nasturtium leaves at all. So I had my daughter snap the accompanying shots so I could ask the Dopers what this plant is. Hey Dopers! What is this plant/vine/flower?\* I won’t ask for speculation as to how my nasturtium converted itself into this, though; I later noticed that it’s coming through the board fence I share with my next-door neighbor. As always, thanks in advance. \*If it’s useful information, I live in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/2 "2013-05-19T17:43:29Z")
It’s a Passionflower, genus _Passiflora_ ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/3 "2013-05-19T17:45:51Z")
They are very invasive vines, unless you have a very specific reason for wanting to keep it I would pull out as many as I see. I have them comming up under my baseboards in the house! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/4 "2013-05-19T17:50:41Z")
Specifically, it seems to be the [Passion Fruit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passiflora_edulis) or granadilla _Passiflora edulis_, although the leaves seem a little off. They are cultivated in California. The derivation of the name is because the peculiar flower and other features of the plant have been taken as [symbols of Christ’s Passion.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passion_Flower) > [@](#): > > The “Passion” in “passion flower” refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion. > > The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance. > The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ. > The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (excluding St. Peter the denier and Judas Iscariot the betrayer). > The flower’s radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns. > The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail > The 3 stigmas represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance). > The blue and white colors of many species’ flowers represent Heaven and Purity. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/5 "2013-05-19T17:51:57Z")
Cool! And thank you very much! I noticed this morning that a bit of the vine is entangling itself with the jasmine that’s obscuring our bedroom window; I think I’ll encourage that, and hope for passion fruit mimosas some time in the next couple of seasons. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/6 "2013-05-19T18:08:34Z")
Ooh! Passionflower! Pretty! (And pretty weird looking. Passionflower look to me like an alien invasion.) Just curious - anyone at home suffering from high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, insomnia, ADHD or similar nervous complaints? I’m always intrigued by “volunteer” plants, and find that more often than not, the medicinals show up where they’re needed. They may not always be the best medicinal choice, but they’re there, ready and willing to be put to use if you so choose! > **[Passionflower: Herbal Remedies](https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/passionflower-herbal-remedies.htm)** > > Passionflower has been used as an herbal remedy for anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and epilepsy, as well as high blood pressure. Learn how to prepare and use passionflower to treat hyperactivity. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/7 "2013-05-19T19:38:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Specifically, it seems to be the [Passion Fruit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passiflora_edulis) or granadilla _Passiflora edulis_, although the leaves seem a little off. They are cultivated in California. I think the OP’s specimen is actually _Passiflora caerulea_ - widely grown as a garden ornamental - similar flowers to _edulis_ - and a more hardy plant, with more compact, darker green leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-plant-is-this/658740/8 "2013-05-19T19:43:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I think the OP’s specimen is actually _Passiflora caerulea_ - widely grown as a garden ornamental - similar flowers to _edulis_ - and a more hardy plant, with more compact, darker green leaves. Looking at images, I think you’re probably right. The leaves and flowers are a better match for [_caerulea_.](http://www.tropicalbritain.co.uk/media/catalog/category/Passiflora_caerulea_-_Watermark_C_-_species2.JPG)