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passionflower definition

passion·flower (pas̸h′ən flo̵u′ər)

noun

any of a genus (Passiflora) of mostly climbing plants of the passionflower family, with red, yellow, green, white, or purple flowers and usually small, edible, yellow or purple, egg-shaped fruit

Etymology: from the supposed resemblance of parts of the flowers to Jesus' wounds, crown of thorns, etc.

adjective

designating a family (Passifloraceae, order Violales) of mostly tendril-climbing, tropical, dicotyledonous plants, including the maypop

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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