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Glite Dictionary
Passiflora edulis

Passiflora edulis

7.5
A tropical climbing vine that produces edible purple passion fruit
  • noun
  • /ˌpæsɪˈflɔːrə ˈɛdʒʊlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Passiflora edulis
  • The Passiflora edulis vine thrives in warm, humid climates and produces fragrant flowers.

Examples

  • Scientists are researching Passiflora edulis for its potential health benefits and unique flavors.

  • The Passiflora edulis plant thrives in warm climates.

  • Farmers in Brazil export large quantities of Passiflora edulis for its popular passion fruit.

  • I enjoy the flavor of Passiflora edulis in desserts.

  • Farmers in Brazil export large quantities of Passiflora edulis for its popular passion fruit.

  • I enjoy the flavor of Passiflora edulis in desserts.

  • The Passiflora edulis vine thrives in warm, humid climates and produces fragrant flowers.

Surface Forms

Passiflora edulis singular
Passiflora edulises plural

Morphology

Passiflora + edulis

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus name Passiflora (passionflower) with the species epithet edulis, which derives from Latin meaning “edible.” If a learner recognises the cognate relationship between edulis and English edible (or knows the Latin epithet), the meaning (‘an edible passionflower / passion fruit plant’) is inferable; however, the scientific Latin naming convention and the less familiar epithet make the expression not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Passiflora edulis gets its name from the plant's common name, the passion flower, because early Christian missionaries saw the flower's many parts as signs of Christ's 'passion' or suffering. That's why the same name came to be used for the sweet purple fruit we now call 'passion fruit'.