{{Short description|Species of vine}} {{Speciesbox | image = MaypopFlowerBBee.jpg | image_caption = Flower | image2 = Passiflora incarnata fruit.jpg | image2_caption = Fruit |status = G5 |status_system = TNC |status_ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154895/Passiflora_incarnata|title=''Passiflora incarnata''|website=NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer|publisher=NatureServe|location=Arlington, Virginia|author=NatureServe|date=5 May 2023|access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref> | genus = Passiflora | species = incarnata | authority = L., 1753 | range_map = Passiflora incarnata map.jpg }}
'''''Passiflora incarnata''''', commonly known as '''maypop''', '''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 both found as a wildflower in the southern United States and in cultivation for its edible fruit and striking bluish purple blooms.
==Description== alt=Passiflora incarnata|thumb|''Passiflora incarnata'' The stems can be smooth or pubescent; they are long and trailing, possessing many tendrils. Leaves are alternate and palmately three lobed and occasionally five lobed,<ref name=vt2020>{{cite web|url=https://weedid.cals.vt.edu/profile/285|title=purple passionflower|website=Weed Identification|publisher=Virginia Tech|year=2020|access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref> measuring {{convert|6|-|15|cm}}.<ref name=vt2020/><ref name=ncextension>{{cite web|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/passiflora-incarnata/|title=''Passiflora incarnata''|website=North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|access-date=18 February 2025|publisher=NC State Extension}}</ref> They have two characteristic glands at the base of the blade on the petiole that secrete drops of sweet nectar.<ref name=ncextension/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://warnell.uga.edu/news/stories/2022/beyond-bloom-passion-flower-promotes-ecological-relationship|title=Beyond the bloom: Passion flower promotes ecological relationship|last=DiGiovanni|first=Michaela|access-date=18 February 2025|website=Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia|publisher=University of Georgia|date=25 August 2022}}</ref> Flowers have five bluish-white petals. They exhibit a white and purple ''corona'', a structure of fine appendages between the petals and stamens. The large flower is typically arranged in a ring above the petals and sepals. They are pollinated by insects such as bumblebees and carpenter bees, and are self-sterile. The flower normally begins to bloom in July.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maypop-Passion Flower – Passiflora incarnata |url=http://rootbuyer.com/maypop-passion-flower-passiflora-incarnatea/ |website=Root Buyer |access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref>
The fleshy fruit, also referred to as a maypop, is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg; it is green, though it may become yellow-green to yellow-orange as it matures. Like other passifloras, the pulp is gelatinous and encases the seeds. The color of the pulp is originally white and becomes a dull yellow when ripe. The seeds are black and approximately 5 mm in size. As with other passifloras, it is the larval food of a number of lepidoptera species, including the zebra longwing, the Gulf fritillary, the crimson-patched longwing, the Julia, the Plebeian sphinx, and the variegated fritillary.<ref>The Xerces Society (2016), ''Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects'', Timber Press.</ref> In many cases its fruit is very popular with wildlife. The egg-shaped green fruits may pop when stepped on. This phenomenon gives the ''P. incarnata'' its common name, as well as the fact that its roots can remain dormant for most of the winter underground and then the rest of the plant "pops" out of the ground by May, unharmed by the snow.
The maypop occurs in thickets, disturbed areas, near riverbanks, and near unmowed pastures, roadsides, and railroads. It thrives in areas with plentiful sunlight. It is not found in shady areas beneath a forest canopy.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}
The Cherokee in the Tennessee area called it ''{{lang|chr|ocoee}}''; the Ocoee River and valley are named after this plant, which is the Tennessee state wildflower.<ref name="Tennessee">{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov/state-symbols.html#flowers |title=State Symbols |publisher=Tennessee Government |access-date=October 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530092112/http://www.tn.gov/state-symbols.html#flowers |archive-date=May 30, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The local salamander ''Desmognathus ocoee'' in the Tennessee region is also named after the Cherokee word for ''P. incarnata''. For thousands of years the maypop was a staple food and medicinal plant for the Cherokee and to this day it is a revered piece of their heritage. This, and other passionflowers are the exclusive larval host plants for the Gulf fritillary and non-exclusive for the variegated fritillary butterflies.<ref name="HornWildflowers">{{Cite book |last1=Horn |first1=Dennis |title=Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians : the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society |last2=Duhl |first2=David |last3=Hemmerly |first3=Thomas Ellsworth |last4=Cathcart |first4=Tavia |publisher=Lone Pine Pub. |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-55105-428-5 |location=[Edmonton] |page=105}}</ref>
==Cultivation==
''Passiflora incarnata'' is easily cultivated and in its native range and homeland is a common low maintenance garden plant that can be trained to adorn fences and arbors. ''Passiflora incarnata'' fruit contain many seeds, each surrounded by an aril holding edible juice, and this juice can be consumed fresh or used to flavor processed products.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=McGuire |first=Christopher M. |date=1999-04-01 |title=Passiflora incarnata (Passifloraceae): A new fruit crop |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866495 |journal=Economic Botany |language=en |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=161–176 |doi=10.1007/BF02866495 |bibcode=1999EcBot..53..161M |issn=1874-9364 |s2cid=24177586|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The wild maypop is an aggressive vine native to the southeastern United States extending into the central US reaching Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.<ref name="edis">{{cite web|url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp457|title=''Passiflora incarnata'' (Wild Passion Flower, Maypop)|author=Gilman EF|publisher= Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida|date=2015|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> The vines can carpet the floor of thickets within days in favorable weather. The plants grow in full sun and need direct sunlight for at least half of the day. The best soils for ''P. incarnata'' are well-drained<ref name="plants">{{cite web|url=https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pain6.pdf|title=Purple passionflower|publisher=US Department of Agriculture|date=15 August 2008}}</ref> but the plants tolerate occasionally wet and acidic soils. The plants have a high drought tolerance. ''P. incarnata'' can be planted all the year in zone 6–11 (hardiness zone). The space between two plants is 36–60 inches (91.44 – 152.4 cm).<ref name="edis"/> One to two years are necessary before they begin bearing. Each flower has a very short life (about one day). Then the fruit develops in two to three months.<ref name="plants"/> The harvest depends on vine size and age of the plant but one reported 10–20 fruits per vine. Seeds can be collected in the fall after the fruit has begun to shrivel. There are some problems with nematodes and caterpillars in the culture of ''P. incarnata''.<ref name="edis"/>
The flowers appear suitable for carpenter bee pollination<ref name=":1" /> and may attract hummingbirds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-09 |title=Codependent evolution gave rise to long-tubed flowers and hummingbirds |url=https://ca.audubon.org/news/codependent-evolution-gave-rise-long-tubed-flowers-and-hummingbirds |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Audubon California |language=en}}</ref> As both bees and hummingbirds look for nectar, the pollen filled flower anthers brush the back of the bee or the face of the hummingbird, enabling pollen to be readily transferred to the central sticky stigma.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=Bird Pollinators {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/bird-pollinators |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pollination |url=https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/pollination/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Native Plants and Ecosystem Services |language=en-us}}</ref>
''Passiflora incarnata'' can potentially become an agricultural weed. The genus ''Passiflora'' introduced for agricultural purpose has been reported as an important weed in certain regions of the world.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal|last1=Mc Guire|first1=C. M.|title=Passiflora incarnata (Passifloraceae): A new fruit crop|journal=Economic Botany|date=1999|volume=53|issue=2|pages=161–176|doi=10.1007/bf02866495|bibcode=1999EcBot..53..161M |s2cid=24177586}}</ref> The United States Department of Agriculture notes that ''P. incarnata'' is referred to as a weed by these publications:<ref>{{cite web|last1=PLANTS Database|title=Purple Passionflower|url=http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=pain6|website=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> ''Weeds of Kentucky and adjacent states: a field guide''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Haragan|first1=P. D.|title=Weeds of Kentucky and Adjacent States: A Field Guide|date=1991|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington, KY|isbn=978-0-8131-3369-0}}</ref> and ''Weeds of the United States and Canada''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Southern Weed Science Society|title=Southern Weed Science Society's weeds of the United States and Canada [electronic resource]|date=1998|publisher=Southern Weed Science Society|location=Champaign, Ill}}</ref>
Mechanical control such as by removing the suckers regularly is advised to prevent the spreading of maypop. It is also recommended to train the vines onto trellis and fences to limit propagation.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
=== Propagation === thumb|Sprouting maypop in July thumb|A cutting harvested after sprouting inground thumb|Three year old maypop grown from seed ''P. incarnata'' seeds exhibit negative photoblasty, and they are sensitive to soil temperature. When sown in darkness in very warm soil (35°C to 40°C), seeds germinate in 5 to 10 days at rates near 90%.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Benvenuti |first1=S. |last2=Simonelli |first2=G. |last3=Macchia |first3=M. |date=2001 |title=Elevated temperature and darkness improve germination in Passiflora incarnata L. seed |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20013151186 |journal=Seed Science and Technology |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=533–541 |issn=0251-0952}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Angelini |first1=Luciana G. |last2=Clemente |first2=Clarissa |last3=Tavarini |first3=Silvia |date=October 2021 |title=Pre-Germination Treatments, Temperature, and Light Conditions Improved Seed Germination of Passiflora incarnata L. |journal=Agriculture |language=en |volume=11 |issue=10 |pages=937 |doi=10.3390/agriculture11100937 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2021Agric..11..937A |issn=2077-0472}}</ref> Prechilling, leaching, and gibberellic acid improve germination at suboptimal germination temperatures.<ref name=":2" /> Without pretreatment, germination is often slow and incomplete at temperatures below 35°C.
Propagation by root is also reliable.<ref>Xie,Min-Xia and Ki,Ming-Ze and He,Ying, 20230489997, Chinese, Journal article, China, doi:10.3969/j.issn.0517-6611.2023.18.010, 0517-6611, 51, (18), Hefei, Journal of Anhui Agricultural Sciences, (42–45), Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Effects of different treatments on cutting rooting of Passiflora., (2023)</ref> A healthy 4- to 8-inch cutting guarantees strong sprouting within a month, regardless of the harvest time of the year. Thicker roots are more vigorous and can usually be found by digging no deeper than 2 inches in the soil.
The actual lifespan of the maypop plant is not documented. Therefore, how long the root-propagated plants would last, by age of the parent plant, is currently unknown. Maypops planted from seed seem healthier.
The roots themselves grow thick and long across the ground, mostly of a uniform diameter, and do not branch often. The smaller, more branching thin roots eventually grow into longer roots, which become thicker with age.
=== Pests === Once they find it and congregate, Japanese beetles eat massive amounts of the leaves and some of the flowers.
thumb|Immature fruit
== Traditional medicine ==
=== Historical uses and folk medicine === Historically, the plant has been used as a herbal medicine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Passiflora%20incarnata|publisher=Plants For A Future|title=''Passiflora incarnata''|date=2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Miroddi M, Calapai G, Navarra M, Minciullo PL, Gangemi S |year=2013|title=''Passiflora incarnata'' L.: Ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials|journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology|volume=150|issue=3|pages=791–804|doi=10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047|pmid=24140586}}</ref><ref name="ema">{{cite web|title=Passiflora|url=http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/herbal/medicines/herbal_med_000133.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001fa1d|website=European Medicines Agency|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> thumb|Maypop with slight pest damage Passionflower is included in pharmacopeias, such as the European and British Pharmacopoeias in which the dried aerial parts of the plant are mentioned. In North America and South America, tea made from the roots is used as a tonic.<ref name=:0 /> The U.S. Food and Drug Administration withdrew approval of its marketing because manufacturers did not submit any evidence regarding its safety and effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-871/passionflower|title=PASSIONFLOWER: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews}}</ref>
===Safety=== thumb|226x226px|Young unbloomed flower A 2013 literature review found that the herb has "a good safety profile".<ref name=:0/> One study found that a daily intake of 800 mg of a dried alcoholic extract, taken over the course of 8 weeks for anxiety, appeared to have been safe.<ref name=:0/>
Passionflower is used as a natural flavoring agent in food manufacturing and is generally recognized as a safe substance (GRAS).<ref name="fda">{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm091048.htm#ftnP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321053934/http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm091048.htm#ftnP|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2013|title=Food Additive Status List|publisher=US Food and Drug Administration|date=4 January 2018|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>
''P. incarnata'' is also listed in the European Register of Feed additives as an animal feed additive.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=EU Animal Feed Register|url=https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/animal-feed-eu-reg-comm_register_feed_additives_1831-03.pdf|access-date=|website=}}</ref>
===Interactions=== Possible interactions with following medications:<ref name=ema/><ref name="um">{{cite web|last1=Ehrlich|first1=Steven D.|title=Passionflower|url=https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/passionflower|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015546/https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/passionflower|archive-date=2018-01-25|website=University of Maryland|publisher=A.D.A.M|access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> * Sedatives * Anticoagulants * Monoamine oxidase inhibitors ''P. incarnata'' may increase main effects or side effects of medications listed above.<ref name=um/>
For oral consumption, pregnant or breastfeeding women should use caution and seek medical advice before orally consuming ''P. incarnata''. The effects of oral ingestion of the plant compounds on reproduction or on unborn child have not been tested.<ref name=ema/><ref name=fda/>
== Phytochemistry == ''P. incarnata'' contains flavonoids and alkaloids,<ref name=ema/><ref name="MiroddiCalapai2013">{{cite journal|last1=Miroddi|first1=M.|last2=Calapai|first2=G.|last3=Navarra|first3=M.|last4=Minciullo|first4=P.L.|last5=Gangemi|first5=S.|year=2013|title=Passiflora incarnata L.: Ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials|journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology|volume=150|issue=3|pages=791–804|doi=10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.047|issn=0378-8741|pmid=24140586}}</ref><ref name=um/> with leaves containing the greatest concentration of flavonoids. Other flavonoids present in ''P. incarnata'' include chrysin, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isovitexin.<ref name="Dhawan, K. 2004">{{cite journal | author = Dhawan K., Dhawan S., Sharma A. | year = 2004 | title = Passiflora: a review update | journal = Journal of Ethnopharmacology | volume = 94 | issue = 1| pages = 1–23 | doi=10.1016/j.jep.2004.02.023 | pmid=15261959}}</ref>
== Culinary uses ==
Passionflower has culinary fruits that may be used for jams, jellies and desserts.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The juice is a favorite flavoring in drinks. It can be used as a fresh substitute for its commercially grown South American relative, ''Passiflora edulis'', a related species with similar sized fruit.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The fruit can be eaten by hand; it has a mildly sweet-tart taste similar to an apricot and a pleasant scent when fully ripe. The Passiflora family have aromatic, sweet fruit that make it highly appreciated for fresh consumption and as a flavoring aid.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mamede|first1=Alexandra M. G. N.|last2=Soares|first2=Antonio G.|last3=Oliveira|first3=Eder J.|last4=Farah|first4=Adriana|date=2017-06-04|title=Volatile Composition of Sweet Passion Fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis)|journal=Journal of Chemistry|volume=2017|pages=1–9|doi=10.1155/2017/3497216|language=en|doi-access=free}}</ref>
== Notes == :1.{{note|MAOI|a}}See Monoamine oxidase inhibitor on Wikipedia.
==References== {{Reflist|32em}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170405131808/http://missouriplants.com/Bluealt/Passiflora_incarnata_page.html ''Passiflora incarnata'': information and pictures]
{{US state flowers}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q128939}} {{Authority control}}
incarnata Category:Butterfly food plants Category:Flora of the Eastern United States Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States Category:Flora of Alabama Category:Flora of Florida Category:Flora of the United States Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine Category:Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Category:Flora of Maryland Category:Symbols of Tennessee Category:Passifloraceae Category:Ayahuasca analogs