Passion Flower
|
Botanical Name |
Passiflora incarnata |
|
Family |
Passifloraceae |
|
Description |
Perennial climbing plant up to 8m/26ft Leaves: ovate, cordate, palmately three lobed Flowers: creamy/white – lavender with purple calyces |
|
Native to |
West Indies, South America, North America |
|
Parts used |
Whole plant |
|
Cultivation |
Well drained sandy soil, sunny position |
|
Harvesting |
May-July |
|
Preserving |
Dry in shade |
|
Actions |
Anodyne, anti-spasmodic, hypnotic, hypotensive, sedative |
|
Constituents |
Alkaloids: harmine, harman, harmaline, harmol, harmalol and passiflorine Flavonoids: apigenin and various glycosides, chrysin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, homoorientin, isovitexin, kaemferol, luteolin, orientin, quercetin, rutin, saponaretin, saponarin, vitezin 8-pyrone derivatives, sterols, sugars, gum |
|
Combines with |
Hops, Jamaican dogwood, skullcap, St John’s wort, valerian, |
|
Nervous system |
Insomnia, neuralgia |
|
Other Notes |
Its name is from its connection with the passion of Christ –the stamens form the crown of thorns and the three branched stigma the three nails or in another legend the hammer, the spear, the pillar where he was scourged, the nails and the crown of thorns In Spanish legend it is the flower that climb onto Jesus’ cross and attached itself to the holes made by the nails When the Spanish invaded South America they thought the presence of the flower indicated that the natives would easily convert to Christianity |
|
Cautions |
Do not take during pregnancy |