passionflower
1
7.2
- noun
- /ˈpæʃənˌflaʊər/
:
flor de la pasión
- As a larva, middle left, G. tica feeds on the leaves of Passiflora tica, near left, a plant in the passionflower genus that may confer toxicity on the insect.
- passionflower vine
Examples
-
The garden was full of vibrant passionflower vines, showcasing their exotic blooms.
-
During the summer, the passionflower plant grew rapidly and filled the trellis with beautiful flowers.
-
I hiked home through the park, taking in the jasmine, the palms, passionflowers, and orchids.
Fiction book (2002) -
I can recognize species of passionflowers, cannas, ipomeas, Xanthosoma, and tree ferns.
Academic text (2002) -
New organs, such as the colorful filaments between the stamens and petals of a passionflower, can arise between whorls.
Academic text (2006) -
I tasted the sweet fruit of the passionflower for the first time and loved its unique flavor.
Synonyms
A climbing plant with bright flowers that sometimes bears sweet fruit
A group of flowering plants called passionflowers or passion vines
A plant with pretty flowers that grows sweet passionfruit
Compounds
- Specialized
A group of tropical climbing plants and shrubs with showy flowers
How Showy
Surface Forms
Morphology
passionflower = passion + flower (semi-transparent) = passion + flower
The components 'passion' and 'flower' are recognizable, but the term names a specific botanical genus and the link to 'passion' is historical/religious rather than simply emotional, so the precise meaning is not fully predictable for learners.
Etymology
Passionflower takes its name from the familiar word passion, which here means Christ's 'suffering'. Christian missionaries in South America saw parts of the showy flower as signs of that story and called the plant a 'passion' flower, so the name stuck to the climbing plant with bright blooms and edible fruit.