passionflower

(pas̸hən 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

Origin: 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

See passionflower in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Any of various climbing, tendril-bearing, chiefly tropical American vines of the genus Passiflora, having large showy flowers with a fringelike crown and a conspicuous stalk that bears the stamens and pistil.

Origin:

Origin: From the resemblance of its parts to the instruments of the Passion

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