Latin (botanical) name: Passiflora incarnata

Common names: Passion Vine, Purple Passion Flower, Granadilla, Maracoc, Maypops

Plant Description: Passion Flower is indigenous in Virginia, and from the southeast United States to Argentina and Brazil. It is so named because of the finely-cut corona in the center of the blossoms to the Crown of Thorns. It is a woody, hairy, climbing vine whose stems climb by means of axillary tendrils. The stems can be anywhere from three to 10 feet long. Passiflora incarnata has a perennial root, and alternate, serrate leaves that are 3-5 lobed. The flowers, which bloom from May to July, are solitary, axillary, and from white to yellowish with a purple, pink or blue calyx crown. They are also very sweetly aromatic. The fruit of Passion Flower is about the size of a chicken egg, orange-colored, edible, and contains many seeds. These are often called maypops, granadilla, or water lemon. When dried, the fruit becomes shrivelled and greenish yellow, and the yellow pulp inside is sweet and edible.

Use: Make a tea by pouring approximately 2 cups of boiling water over 2 heaped tsp of herb. Let steep for 3-5 minutes. In general, sip a cup before breakfast, and another 2 hours after dinner.

Cautions & Interactions: Keep out of reach of children.