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Volume 21(2), 77- 81, 2017 JOURNAL of Horticulture, Forestry and Biotechnology
www.journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro
77
The Passiflora genus - New perspectives in flower production in controlled environment Boboc Paula (Oros)1, Cantor Maria*1
1University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Horticulture Faculty, 3-5 Mănăştur
Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. Nowadays the introduction of new species and varieties in floricultural crops in Romania is a necessity, the more so as there is the possibility of monitoring the ecological factors in a controlled climate. Passiflora is a highly appreciated worldwide plant, for both the decorative value and the many medicinal properties it has. For ornamental purposes, the most common is Passiflora caerulea, followed by the species Passiflora edulis and Passiflora quadrangularis, which, in addition to fruit production, are also used for decorative purposes. Passifloa incarnata has the greatest interest in Passifloraceae because it contains significant amounts of substances such as: alpha-alanine, pectin, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, serotonins, sterols, volty oils, etc., with sedative, analgesic, anxiolytic and hypotensive properties. This paper focuses on the presentation of these Passiflora species from the ornamental, food and medicinal point of view in order to be promoted and introduced into culture in climate controlled areas.
Key words new species, morpho - decorative characteristics, phytotherapy, alternatives
The Passiflora genus is the most widespread of the
tropical flora, belongs to Passifloraceae family,
comprising over 500 species. More than 350 species of
all of them were found in tropical regions and tropical
rainforests in South America, and 60 of them are edible
[16].
Passiflora L. species are distributed in tropical
and subtropical regions, from sea level to attitudes over
3000 m. The largest diversity of the species is found in
the temperate and continental regions between 400 m
and 2000 m altitude above Sea level [13].
Depending on the people, the flower has
different names: passion flower, flower of the passions
of Christ, the apricot vine, the maracuja or the
grandilla. The etymology of the word comes from
Latin (passion, meaning suffering, passion) and refers
to the passions of Christ, being the vegetal symbol of
the sins to which the Savior was subjected [23].
Starting from the description written by the Spanish
missionary Jacomo Bossio in 1609, passiflora has been
given religious connotations that have changed over
time: it was known as "espina de christo" = "the crown
of Christ" in Spain , Or "Star of the Virgin Mary" in
Germany. For the Spanish missionary, the flower was
the mystery of the passions of Christ because it
included symbols of crucifixion. Thus, as a result of his
performance, passiflora also receives the name "la flor
de las cinco llagas" - "the flower of the five wounds".
These names are not universal, but they are the culture
of each country. For example, in Japan, Passiflora is
known as the "clock plant" [22].
The major diversity center of this species is in
Brazil. Here are two recognized forms for the edible
fruits they produce: purple (Passiflora edulis) and
yellow (Passiflora edulis f. Flavicarpa). Passiflora
quadrangularis is also grown for local consumption, it
is suitable for hot and humid climates, producing a
round or elongated, yellow-green fruit at maturity.
Passiflora caerulea is a vine, appreciated especially for
its ornamental value [11]. Passiflora incarnata is a
plant with particular importance for its use in
contemporary phytotherapy, long used as anxiolytic
agent, is probably one of the most widely studied
species to date [21].
Species description
Approximately 20 Passiflora species are
cultivated specifically for ornamental purposes. Of
these, P. elegans, P. picturata and P. raddiana,
originating in Brazil, are the most popular species.
Passiflora liguiaris, P. manicata and P.
quadrangularis were introduced and cultivated as
ornamental species and appreciated for their edible
fruit. There are species producing fragrant flowers,
suitable for growing in pots, for example, P. cerulea,
P. antioquiensis and P. rubra. The species P.
capsularis, P. foetida, P. mollissima and P. subpeltata
can be cultivated in the greenhouse, being appreciated
for the decorative value [7].
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The most known species of the genus is
Passiflora caerulea (Fig.1), used as a decorative indoor
plant or garden in regions where the climate is
favorable for its development. It is a vigorous plant
with a voluminous stem, well branched, high up to 4
meters in maturity, with persistent and glossy leaves.
Flowers are white, solitary, with light green sepals and
white petals, but similar to sepals, 7-8 cm in diameter,
strongly fragrant and occur throughout the summer and
autumn. The stamens are large and numerous, with a
light blue, white, and red base, covering the petals 2/3
of their length. The stigma is large, cuneiform and
trifle [17].
Fig. 1. Passiflora caerulea (Ornamental palisade plant)
(Source: Original)
Passiflora quadrangularis is a highly voluble
decorative plant (Fig. 2). The flowers are solitary,
fragrant and can reach up to 12 cm in purple color. The
plant's stems are bent, the leaves are green and oval.
Ȋnfloreşte selected this summer, from June to August
[5]. The fruit is large, reaching extreme values of 8-10
cm in diameter and 10-20 cm in length, with juicy
pulp, yellowish-green. It has many names among
which, in English, it is common: wild passionflower,
granadilla, old field apricot, apricot vine, passion vine,
mayapple, maypop, flower, molly pop, Holy Trinity,
Maracock, white sarsaparilla. In Romanian it meets
under the simple name of pasiflora, passion fruit or
maracuja [26].
Fig. 2. Passiflora quadrangularis from the greenhouse
of USAMV Cluj-Napoca (Source: Original)
Passiflora incarnata is a medicinal but also
ornamental plant, which can reach 4-5 m in size, the
flowers have a corolla of white-gray petals surrounding
a crown of thin filaments, longer than the petals, of
several colors (purple at the base, white in the middle
and blue at the top), and the 5 stamens are yellow and
gold and the 3 stigmas are brown (Fig. 3). The fruits
are large and contain many seeds inside. The flower
blooms in the summer and spectacular flowers are
obtained by exposure to the sun or a semi-shaded
place, preferring medium humus soil, rich in humus
and neutral acidity. The purpose medicinl use young
branches, thin, with or without leaves [34].
Fig. 3. Passiflora incarnata (flower)
(Source: www.plantlust.com [29])
Passiflora edulis is widely grown for its edible
fruit (Fig. 4). It is a herbaceous lance, which can reach
up to 15 m long. Its flowers are fragrant, solitary,
white, with light green sepals and white petals, but
similar to the 5 sepals, 8-10 cm in diameter, the crown
of filaments is purple at the base. Stamens are large
and numerous, with purple base. Flowering takes place
between July and August.
The alternate leaves have a diameter of about
15 cm, are trilobate, skinny and slightly shiny. It
features a simple, axillary thigh that reaches 10 cm in
length [35]. This species produces some of the finest
exotic fruits used in culinary art and alternative
medicine.
79
Fig. 4. Passiflora edulis (flower and fruit)
(Source: www.tijardin.com [31])
Passiflora genus usage
Passiflora use for medicinal purposes dates
back to the Maya culture, where it was used to treat
dysentery [9].
The sanogenic effects of this species were first
discovered in Peru, where the Spanish doctor, Dr.
Monardes, brought it to Europe in 1569. Infusion from
the plant leaves was used in North America in the mid-
1800s. In many countries in Europe, the US and
Canada have been used as tranquilizers in the case of
neuroses for more than 200 years. For example, in
Germany, in 1979 there were 42 sedatives and six
cardiotonics prepared from the species of this species.
It has also been used to treat colic, dysentery, diarrhea,
menstrual pain, insomnia, headache, eye pain, epilepsy
and convulsions in pain or muscle spasms [14].
Passionflower aerial parts were the most
popular ingredients in most embedded extracts, tablets
and tinctures [24].
Passiflora was first registered as an official
drug in the 1970s and 1990s by the pharmacopoeia in
America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France,
Switzerland, Egypt and India [7].
P. coccinea is used as a contraceptive by the
Yawalapiti Indians, a tribe living in the Xingu reserve
in the Amazon forest [19]. They call it "ma-uan-tapa"
which literally means "the root that leaves a woman
without child". Indian women daily drink cold tea
made from these roots to avoid pregnancy. The same
species was also used in Guyana for the treatment of
conjunctivitis [8] cited by [7].
Other Passiflora species are thought to have
astringent, depurative, vermifuge effects and are used
in the treatment of arthritis, gout, hemorrhoids, skin
inflammation, and stress reduction [6] cited by [7].
There is information about the presence of
poisonous metabolites, such as prussian acid, leaf,
pericarp, and immature seeds of P. quadrangularis [2].
"Maracuja" was also associated with death in
Brazilian folklore, especially in northeastern Brazil
[19].
Flavonoids are the main component of the
Passiflora species studied to date [25].
P. edulis and P. incarnata species are most
used in phytomedicine, so they will be treated
separately in the following rows.
The traditional use of P. edulis for its sedative
properties is well known in South America, particularly
in Brazilian folk medicine. Such traditional use is
based on the use of leaves and roots. Fruits are also
highly appreciated and used against stomach cancer
[10]. The fruit of the passiflor enjoys all the inhabitants
of the tropical rainforest, both humans and animals, all
eating it with great pleasure. Some Passiflora species
have been grown for use in traditional cuisine. The
fruit is used in the preparation of salads, creams, ice
creams, sherbets and other preparations.
P. incarnata is cultivated in Europe and
widely used in homeopathy and phytotherapy [18]
cited by [7]. The plant has been recommended since
the beginning of the century against insomnia and
nervous manifestations during menopause [12] cited by
[7]. Its aerial parts (flowers, fruits and stems) have
traditionally been used in folk medicine (in the US)
against anxiety and neuralgia [3].
Because P. incarnata has a slightly sedative
effect, it can be used in combination with other species
of the same type of effect, such as Valeriana
officinalis, Humulus lupulus and Piscidia piscipula for
the treatment of insomnia [7].
In addition to these uses, it was also
considered useful against headaches and tension [15].
There have been situations where
pharmaceutical products from P. edulis and P.
caerulea were marketed to falsify those of P. incarnata
[4]. Authentication of the Passiflora incarnata is now
based on methods such as HPLC, TLC and microscopy
[1].
Being so much appreciated worldwide for its
decor, although the environmental factors in Romania
are not totally favorable for the passifloraceae culture,
there are at least three cultivars of Passiflora caerulea
that resist under these conditions:
'Purple Haze' is a hybrid (P. caerulea x P.
amethystina) created by Cor Laurens. It is a very
vigorous liana, which is easily to grown, the flowers
are impressive, scented, white and purple, with purple
filaments. Sepals and petals are of a purple [28]. It
prefers to be placed in full sun and is resistant to low
temperatures up to -10 ° C. Flowering takes place from
June to October [33].
'Lavender Lady' is a cultivar that has high
vigor, is easy to cultivate and resists low temperatures
up to -3 ° C [28]. The plant prefers to be located in a
southern exposure area, in a moderately fertile but
well-drained soil. If temperatures fall below -7 ° C in
cold season, mulching is recommended. The flowers of
this cultivar are not fragrant, but display an almost
80
permanent flowering period if kept in sheltered areas.
As a rule, it blooms from May to October and from the
end of October to March. Its flowers open in the
morning and close early in the evening [32].
'Constance Elliot' is a cultivar whose white
and fragrant flowers impress easily. She was the
winner of the prestigious "Award of Garden Merit"
award by the Royal Horticultural Society for her
remarkable qualities [27]. At maturity it reaches the
length of 800 cm. He prefers to be placed in the sun
directly, but he also resists the semi-shade. Can be
grown on almost any type of soil, whether sandy, clays
or limestone, without having any special requirements
for its pH. The essential condition is that the soil is
well drained. It is very resistant to low temperatures, it
even supports -15 ° C provided the soil is free from
frost. It only blooms in the very warm period of the
year, from summer to early autumn, but its leaves are
eternally green [30].
Conclusions and recommendations
Passiflora species are particularly appreciated,
both for their sanogenic effects and for the decor they
create.
At present, phytomedics are being marketed in
Romania to treat insomnia or to induce sleep, to treat
mental tension, depression, irritability, or premenstrual
syndrome. Likewise, Passiflora teas and tinctures are
equally appreciated.
In order to follow the trend of the ornamental
plant market, it is recommended to cultivate special
hybrids to resist climatic conditions with lower
temperatures compared to the areas of origin, or to
invest in the improvement and acclimatization of the
species Passiflora caerulea in Romania. In this way it
is advisable to proceed with the Passiflora incarnata
because the potential of the market is a great one, and
the health problems of contemporary society are
closely related to the evolution and spread of stress,
anxiety and nervousness, for which people expect to
Receive phytomedical alternatives.
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