Passifloraceae
Passiflora

Passiflora foetida L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 959 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & Subtropical America. It is a climbing annual or biennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, as animal food, a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for food.

Descriptions

Passifloraceae, W. J. J. O. de Wildem (Rijksherbarium, Leiden). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1975

Morphology General Habit
Climber or creeper to 4 m., annual or biennial, subglabrous or whitish or yellowish-brown hairy to various degrees, ill-odoured; stem terete.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades entire or usually 3(–5)-lobed up to halfway, suborbicular to ovate in outline, base cordate, 3–10 by 3–10 cm., 3–5-nerved from near base, usually membranous; lobes up to 4 cm., usually acute-acuminate, margin entire or subentire with coarser gland-tipped hairs; petiole 1–6 cm.; stipules subreniform, 0.5–1 cm., deeply cleft into filiform gland-tipped processes.
Morphology General Glands
Glands absent, except gland-tipped stronger hairs or processes on petiole, stipules, bracts, etc.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences sessile, 1(–2)-flowered, the straight peduncle 2–6 cm., inserted beside a simple tendril 5–15 cm.; bracts and bracteoles (1–)2–4 cm., deeply 2–4-pinnatisect, with filiform gland-tipped segments, forming an involucre just below and enveloping the flower.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers ± 3–5 cm. in diameter, pale pinkish or lilac, rarely white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium short, saucer-shaped; sepals ovate-oblong to lanceolate, ± 1.5–2 cm., awned 2–4 mm. dorsally just below the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals oblong to lanceolate or ± spathulate, slightly shorter than the sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona consisting of 2 outer series of threads ± 1 cm. long, and inward several series of capillary threads 1–2 mm.; operculum membranous, ± erect, denticulate; disk conspicuous, annular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androgynophore
Androgynophore 4–6 mm..
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Filaments flattened, ± 5–6 mm.; anthers 3–5 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary globose to ellipsoid, ± 2–3.5 mm., usually glabrous; styles 4–5 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a rather dry berry, subglobose, 1.5–3 cm. in diameter, usually glabrous, yellowish to orange, ± enveloped by the persistent involucre.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, subovoid to ± cuneiform, ± 4–5 mm. long, obscurely 3-dentate at apex.
Habitat
Sometimes cultivated and often escaped, now common in disturbed places, on coastal sands, etc.; 0–2500 m.
Distribution
K4 P T3 T6 T8 Z introduced throughout the tropics
[FTEA]

Passifloraceae, R. and A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Climbing unpleasant-smelling annual or biennial plant up to 4 m.
Morphology Stem
Stems yellowish, usually hirsute with yellowish ± spreading hairs and capitate-glandular cilia; internodes 4·5 cm. long or more.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-lamina up to 11 × 11 cm., cordate at the base, 3(5)-palmatilobed, the lobes acute at the apex, entire or irregularly sinuate and dentate at the margin, membranous, sparsely hirsute with yellowish spreading hairs and capitate-glandular cilia; petiole up to 6 cm. long, usually hirsute like the stems, glandless; stipules deeply cleft into filiform gland-tipped divisions.
Morphology General Tendrils
Sterile tendrils axillary, 10 cm. long or more, very sparsely hirsute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncle up to 6 cm. long, solitary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts involucrate, 2–4-pinnatifid or -pinnatisect, rarely 1-pinnatifid, the segments filiform, gland-tipped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 2–5 cm. wide, white, pink, lilac or purplish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 1·5–2 cm., ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, dorsally horned below the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals oblong, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-spathulate, slightly shorter than the sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona with the filaments in several rows, those of the 2 outer ones c. 1 cm. long, filiform, the others 1–2 mm. long, capillary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Operculum
Operculum membranous, erect, denticulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit 1·5–3 cm. in diameter, globose or sub-globose, yellow to red.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds c. 5 × 2·5 mm., ovate-cuneiform, obscurely tridentate at the apex, coarsely reticulate at the centre of each face.
[FZ]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1500 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Magdalena.
Morphology General Habit
Trepadora
Conservation
Preocupación Menor
[CPLC]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Creeping or climbing herb to 4 m long, bad-smelling, pilose with spreading yellowish hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 3(–5)-lobed, 3–10 cm long, cordate at the base; petiole 1–6 cm long; stipules 0.5–1 cm long, deeply divided into gland-tipped processes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1(–2)-flowered on 2–6 cm long peduncles; bracts and bracteoles forming a much divided glandular-hairy involucre enveloping the flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 3–5 cm in diam., white to pink
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium saucer-shaped; sepals 1.5–2 cm long, awned below the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona consisting of 2 outer series of threads c. 1 cm long, and inward several series of thinner and shorter threads
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Styles 4–5 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit subglobose, 1.5–3 cm in diam., yellowish to orange, enveloped by persistent involucre.
Distribution
S2 pantropical.
Ecology
Altitude up to c. 150 m.
[FSOM]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1500 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogotá DC, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Climbing.
Conservation
National Red List of Colombia (2021): LC.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Cinco llagas, Mashula
[UPFC]

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology
Alt. 0 - 1500 m.
Morphology General Habit
Creeper.
Conservation
Least concern.
Distribution
Native from Colombia.
Vernacular
Mashula.
[UPB]

Passifloraceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Note
Rank-scented
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit yellow when ripe, edible
Ecology
Naturalized in waste places.
[FWTA]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
bejuco canastilla, bejuco canastillo, bejuco siete llagas, chulupa de loma, cincollagas, cocorilla, cocorillo, curubo, esponjilla, flor de la pasión, gulupo, pasionaria, patillita, sietellagas, tapallito
[UNAL]

Uses

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Use Medicines Unspecified Medicinal Disorders
Medicinal (State of the World's Plants 2016, Instituto Humboldt 2014).
[UPB]

Common Names

Spanish
Cinco llagas.

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/