Common Name: Yellow Granadilla

General Information

Passiflora laurifolia is a tall, vigorous, evergreen climbing shrub producing more or less woody stems from 5 - 18 metres or more long. These stems can scramble over the ground or clamber into other plants, supporting themselves by means of coiling tendrils. In dense forest, they only flower in the canopy of the trees[, , ].
The edible fruit is greatly appreciated and often eaten. It is mainly gathered from the wild and consumed locally in Brazil[]. The fruit is often sold in local markets wherever it grows, though the plant is not often cultivated except in the Caribbean where it is widely grown. It is also commonly grown as an ornamental[, , ].

Known Hazards

The leaves are said to be poisonous[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Guyanas to the Caribbean.

Habitat

Climbing into trees and shrubs in tropical rainforests[]. Thickets and forest borders[]. Marsh forest, roadsides, rock savannahs, liana forest on bauxite or granite[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Passiflora laurifolia is a plant of the hot, wet, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres[, ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 12 - 36°c[]. The plant is not tolerant of frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 4,000mm[].
Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade[]. Many of the vigorous species, this one included, can succeed in fairly dense shade, but in such a situation they climb into the canopy of the forest in order to get enough light to flourish, flower and produce fruit. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[]. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become a weed in many tropical countries[].
Plants produce tendrils and climb by attaching these to other plants.
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant[]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or made into refreshing drinks, ice cream, sweets etc[, , , ]. The orange-yellow fruits have a fragrant, juicy, agreeably subacid pulp[]. The fruit is sometimes eaten by making a hole in one end and sucking out the pulp and seeds[]. The fruit is rich in vitamin C[]. The yellow to yellow-orange, ellipsoid to ovoid fruit is about 5 - 10cm x 4 - 7cm[, , ].

Medicinal

The content of the glycoside passiflorin can produce weak narcotic effects[].
The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer[]. We have no specific information for this species but many species are used in herbal infusions to calm the nerves and help bring about a restful sleep[].

A cold, salted decoction of the root is said to be an effective vermifuge[].

An infusion of the stems and leaves is used as a children's vermifuge[].

The leaves are vermifuge[]. The powdered leaves are bitter and considered to be an anthelmintic[].
A poultice of the leaves is used for dressing syphilitic ulcers[].

The green fruit contains acetone and a cyanogenic heteroside which disappears upon maturity of the fruit[].

Other Uses

Sometimes used as a rootstock for Passiflora edulis because it is less susceptible to soil borne disease[].

An extract of the flowers and an extract of the fruit are both used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as skin conditioners[].

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, but there is usually a high percentage[].
Layering. Very easy[].
Air layering.

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