Passiflora suberosa

Family

Passifloraceae

Botanical Name

Passiflora suberosa L.

Linnaeus, C. von (1753) Species Plantarum 2: 958. Type: Dominica, probably Hispaniola; holo: ?.

Synonyms

Passiflora suberosa var. minima Mast., Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 27: 630(1871), Type: Brazil; holo: ?.

Common name

Corky Passion Vine; Small Passion Flower; Cork Passionflower; Small Passion Fruit; Vine Corky Passion; Corky Passion Flower

Weed

Stem

A slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Leaves

Leaf blades lobed or smooth. Lobed blades about 4.5-8 x 3.5-6.5 cm, smooth blades about 2-4.2 x 1.2-2.5 cm. Petioles about 0.5-2.5 cm long with two globular glands attached to the sides of the petiole usually, but not always, along the upper half of the petiole. Stipules linear, about 6-7 mm long. Lateral veins 5 or 6 on each side of the midrib. Tendrils simple (unbranched), axillary.

Flowers

Flowers about 18-20 mm diam., stalks about 13-15 mm long, articulated in the upper half. Calyx tube flat, disk-like at the apex, about 5-6 mm diam. Calyx lobes or perianth lobes about 8-9 mm long. True petals absent. Corona in four whorls decreasing in size towards the centre. Stamens attached to a gynophore about 2 mm long. Free staminal filaments about 2.5 mm long, anthers about 1.7 mm long. Styles three, free from one another, curved, each about 4 mm long. Stigmas clavate.

Fruit

Fruits globular to ellipsoid, about 10-12 x 10-11 mm. Seeds numerous, each seed flattened, obovoid or tear-drop shaped in outline, about 3 x 2 mm. Testa pitted and corrugated. Aril or sarcotesta enveloping each seed. Embryo about 2 mm long, cotyledons +/- orbicular, about 0.9-1 mm long. Radicle about 1 x 0.3 mm.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

An introduced species originally from tropical South America, now naturalized in NT, CYP, NEQ and southwards as far as coastal central New South Wales. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to 500 m. Grows in vine thicket, monsoon forest, disturbed lowland and upland rain forest and old settlement sites. Also naturalized in India, SE Asia, Malesia and the Pacific islands.

Natural History

Experimental proof of toxicity of this species is not available but field evidence has indicated poisoning of cattle and ducks. Everist (1974).