Passiflora suberosa is a very variable species and may include several cryptic species; it needs revision[].

Common Name:

General Information

Passiflora suberosa is a perennial climbing plant producing slender stems that can become more or less woody; the stems can be up to 6 metres long, scrambling over the ground and climbing into the surrounding vegetation, where they attach themselves by means of tendrils[, , ]. A slender vine, becoming winged and corky below, the stem does not exceed 2cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is an ornamental plant and can be grown to provide ground cover.

Known Hazards

Experimental proof of toxicity of this species is not available, but field evidence has indicated poisoning of cattle and ducks[].

Botanical References

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Range

S. America - All countries except Chile; C. America - Panama to Mexico and into Texas; Caribbean - Barbados to the Bahamas; SE N. America - Florida.

Habitat

Moist or dry, often rocky, mixed or oak forest and thickets, at elevations of 1,000-2,000 metres[]. A naturalized weed in grassland, shrubland, open dry forest, roadsides and disturbed shady localities, at elevations from sea-level to 2,500 metres[]

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Passiflora suberosa has a very wide native dristribution, from the warm temperate zone of southern S. America, through the tropical regions to the warm temperate zone of southern N. America, and can be found from sea level to 2,000 metres or more. Plants, at least from parts of its range, are tolerant of light and short-lived frosts[].
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer. Prefers soils with organic content, but will still grow reasonably well in nutrient poor soils. Can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without injury. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
The plant is a locally established weed in many tropical countries[]. It is an aggressive weed, which may smother the natural vegetation[]. It does best in the subcanopy layers where it smothers shrubs, small trees and the ground layer; though in some areas it also smothers the upper canopy layer[]. It is considered an invasive weed in some countries, such as South Africa, where it is listed as harmful, and as such is subject to eradication practices[]. The fruits have many seeds that are dispersed by fruit-eating birds[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. An agreeable flavour[].The globose to ovoid, blue-black fruit is around 6 - 15mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

A leaf decoction is applied externally to treat urticaria and itch[].

A root decoction is taken to induce menstruation and to treat hysteria[].

A decoction of the plant, mixed with either a pinch of salt or with a decoction of young leaves of Momordica charantia, is taken to treat indigestion[].

The aerial parts of the plant contain simple indole alkaloids, tannins, coumarines, sterols, terpenes and the cyanogenic glycosides passisuberosin and epipassisuberosin[].
The fruits contain several anthocyanins[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used to cover the ground, especially when growing in semi-shade.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe along with the pulp which will help break down the seed coat and speed up germination[]. Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours in warm water and germination time can be reduced if the seed is then mixed with the juice of a fresh passion fruit (of any species)[]. Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate[]. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24°c[]. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough[].
Cuttings of young shoots, taken at the nodes. The cuttings root best in a neutral to slightly acid compost, but 100% sharp sand also produces good results[].
Cuttings of fully mature wood taken at a node. They can take 3 months[].
Layering. Very easy[].
Air layering.

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