Passionflowers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flowering plant known for its unique and vibrant blooms, often utilized in gardens and decorative settings
2. These are climbing plants belonging to the Passifloraceae family, characterized by their intricate flowers and fruit, some of which are edible
3. Plants that produce eye-catching flowers, commonly associated with their association to various cultures and often celebrated for their beauty and ornamental use

Etymology: The passionflower gets its name from the Passion of Christ, not from any feeling of desire. Its flowers were read by early Catholic missionaries and artists as a visual summary of the crucifixion: the ten petals and sepals stood for the apostles minus Judas and Peter, the coronal filaments were taken for the crown of thorns, the three stigmas for the nails, and the five anthers for the wounds. The name is a calque of Italian "fior della Passione" or Latin "flos Passionis", meaning "flower of the Passion." The plant's name thus records a devotional reading of its anatomy. Because the word is a translation rather than a native coinage, its English form simply carries over the Latin and Italian phrasing, and the plural "passionflowers" follows the ordinary English pattern of adding -s to the noun for the many climbing vines that bear these blooms.

Synonyms: passiflora, maypop, passion vine, granadilla, maracuja