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Useful Tropical Plants

Passiflora nitida

Kunth

Passifloraceae

+ Synonyms

Passiflora nymphaeoides H.Karst.

Common Name: Maracuja Suspiro

Passiflora nitida
Flowering stem
Photograph by: J. Solomon
Creative Commons License
Passiflora nitida Passiflora nitida Passiflora nitida Passiflora nitida Passiflora nitida

General Information

Passiflora nitida is a very vigorous climbing plant with a perennial rootstock. It produces annual to perennial stems from 8 - 15 metres long that scramble over the ground or clamber into other plants, supporting themselves by means of tendrils. In dense forest it climbs into the canopies of trees, only flowering when it reaches the light[
1678
Title
Passifloraceae do Brasil. Estudo do gênero Passiflora L., subgênero Passiflora
Publication
Fontqueria 45 (1997)
Author
Cervi A.C.
Publisher
 
Year
1997
ISBN
0212-0623
Description
 
].
The edible fruits are greatly appreciated within the plant's native range, where it is collected from the wild and also sometimes cultivated[
416
Title
Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
Year
2000
ISBN
85-867174-24-0
Description
A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. The plant is also cultivated in Indonesia (Java) for its tasty fruits[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
,
1673
Title
Passifloraceae
Publication
Flora Mesoamericana, Volume 3 (2), Passifloraceae, pp 1 - 135
Author
MacDougal J.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam.

Habitat

Secondary forest, riverine forest and creek forests[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Found in dense forest, and also in savannah[
1678
Title
Passifloraceae do Brasil. Estudo do gênero Passiflora L., subgênero Passiflora
Publication
Fontqueria 45 (1997)
Author
Cervi A.C.
Publisher
 
Year
1997
ISBN
0212-0623
Description
 
]. Found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial Climber
Height0.00 m
Growth RateFast
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Passiflora nitida is a plant mainly of the lowland tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,000 metres.
Passiflora species generally grow best in a sheltered, sunny position or 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. Most species are found in the wild in moist but well-drained soils, generally of a lighter texture, and will often flower and fruit more heavily if the soil fertility is low. They often develop deep roots and can be moderately tolerant of dry spells. Most Passiflora species prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline soil, growing best where the pH is around 6.5 - 7.5[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
A fast-growing plant[
377
Title
Trade Winds Fruit
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or used to make juices[
416
Title
Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
Year
2000
ISBN
85-867174-24-0
Description
A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
,
1438
Title
Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
Publication
 
Author
Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. The thick-skinned fruit has a juicy pulp with a sweet flavour[
416
Title
Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
Year
2000
ISBN
85-867174-24-0
Description
A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. Tasty[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The fruit is a globose berry about 3 - 6cm in diameter[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
416
Title
Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
Year
2000
ISBN
85-867174-24-0
Description
A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
,
1678
Title
Passifloraceae do Brasil. Estudo do gênero Passiflora L., subgênero Passiflora
Publication
Fontqueria 45 (1997)
Author
Cervi A.C.
Publisher
 
Year
1997
ISBN
0212-0623
Description
 
]. The ellipsoid to widely ellipsoid (or obovoid), yellow-orange to red or dark purplish-red fruit can be 6 - 11cm × 5 - 8cm[
1673
Title
Passifloraceae
Publication
Flora Mesoamericana, Volume 3 (2), Passifloraceae, pp 1 - 135
Author
MacDougal J.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
 
]

Medicinal

The leaves are used to treat intestinal disorders[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

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[
1677
Title
Dicionário das Plantas Úteis do Basil e das Exóticas Cultivadas Vol. 5
Publication
 
Author
Corrêa M. Pio & Penna L. de Azeredo
Publisher
Ministério da Agricultura; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1978
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work in six volumes, first published in the 1920's and revised in the 1970's. Written in Portuguese.
]. 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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas[
1677
Title
Dicionário das Plantas Úteis do Basil e das Exóticas Cultivadas Vol. 5
Publication
 
Author
Corrêa M. Pio & Penna L. de Azeredo
Publisher
Ministério da Agricultura; Rio de Janeiro
Year
1978
ISBN
 
Description
A massive work in six volumes, first published in the 1920's and revised in the 1970's. Written in Portuguese.
].

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[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. 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)[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24°c[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
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[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
Cuttings of fully mature wood taken at a node. They can take 3 months[
3
Title
Growing Unusual Fruit.
Publication
 
Author
Simmons. A. E.
Publisher
David & Charles; Newton Abbot.
Year
1972
ISBN
0-7153-5531-7
Description
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.
].
Layering. Very easy[
262
Title
Passion Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Vanderplank. J.
Publisher
Cassell. London.
Year
1991
ISBN
0-304-34076-6
Description
An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
Air layering.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Passiflora+nitida>

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