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passionflower
(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
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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