Passiflora (granadilla genus)

Genus: Passiflora (Granadilla genus)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid I > Order: Malpighiales > Family: Passifloraceae

About 525 species (mainly American but about 20 species in SE China and Australasia). About 14 species have been introduced to southern Africa of which eight have become naturalised and of these, four are declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa. The Purple granadilla or Passion fruit Passiflora edulis is cultivated for its fruit but has also become naturalised.

Species naturalised in southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI) and Flora of Zimbabwe.

Passiflora coerulea (Blue passion flower, Siergrenadella) Native from Brazil to Argentina. A declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa.
Passiflora edulis (Purple granadilla, Granadilla, Passion fruit) Native to Brazil. Cultivated for its fruit but has become naturalised in the region.
Passiflora foetida Native to Central and South America.
Passiflora ligularis (Sweet granadilla) Native to Central and South America. It has become naturalised garden escape in Zimbabwe.
Passiflora manicata Native from Venezuela to Peru (South America).
Passiflora mollissima (Banana poka, Bananadilla, Piesangdilla) Native to South America. A declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa.
Passiflora suberosa (Devil’s pumpkin, Indigo berry) Native to Central and South America. A declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa.
Passiflora subpeltata (Granadina) A declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa.

Additional species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Passiflora alata Native to Brazil.
Passiflora antioquiensis Native to Colombia.
Passiflora mixta (Tacso del monte) Native to Central and South America.
Passiflora organensis Native to Brazil.
Passiflora quadrangularis (Granadilla) Native to Central America and the West Indies.
Passiflora violacea Native from Bolivia to Brazil.

Publications

Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated plants of southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.