Passifloraceae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of flowering plants characterized by their vines, which often produce edible fruits; known for the unique structure of their flowers, typically featuring a complex arrangement of petals; commonly referred to as passionflowers, many species are cultivated for their ornamental and culinary value
2. This botanical family includes a diversity of species that are primarily tropical or subtropical, recognized for their distinct inflorescences and fruit production; their flowers are usually intricate and visually striking, contributing to their popularity in gardening; many members are also significant sources of food and herbal remedies
3. Members of this plant family are primarily climbing or trailing vines, known for their beautiful and elaborate flowers that attract pollinators; they bear fruit that can be sweet or sour, widely enjoyed in various culinary applications; these plants are also valued for their ornamental qualities in landscaping and horticulture

Etymology: Passifloraceae is a family name built the way all botanical family names are: take a genus, here "Passiflora" (the passionflowers), and add the Latin suffix "-aceae," which marks a plant family. The genus name itself was coined in the 1600s, not in classical times. Passiflora is a Neo-Latin formation from "passio," meaning suffering, and "flos," meaning flower, a name given by Christian missionaries in the Americas who read the flower's parts as symbols of Christ's Passion: the threadlike corona was taken for the crown of thorns, the three stigmas for the nails, and the five anthers for the wounds. The family name was formally established in the nineteenth century, when botanists grouped these genera together, and it was adopted into English scientific writing without any change beyond its Latin form. Because the name is a technical coinage, it has no meaning beyond the family it labels, and it does not appear as an ordinary English word outside botany.

Synonyms: passionflower family