passionflower

English
Passiflora murucuja, a passionflower of Hispaniola

Alternative forms

Etymology

Calque of Italian fior della Passione or Latin flōs Passiōnis; after the appearance and number of its various parts, thought to be symbolic of Christ's passion.

Noun

passionflower (plural passionflowers)

  1. Any of very many vines, in North America and elsewhere, of the genus Passiflora that bear edible fruit called passion fruit, and showy flowers of a structure symbolic of the Passion of Christ.
    • 1810-19, Robert Southey, History of Brazil:
      The Priests observed frequent fasts, and abstained at all times from certain animals and fruits, especially from the Granadilla, the fruit of the Passion-flower, because, say the lying Jesuits, of the mysteries which are signified in that marvellous blossom […]
  2. The flower of this plant.

Translations

References
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