西番莲 xi fan lian

Passiflora caerulea Loureiro ex Candolle (1828), not Linnaeus (1753); P. loureiroi G. Don.

Herbaceous vines. Stem terete, slightly angulate, glabrous. Stipules reniform, ca. 1.2 cm, clasping, margin undulate; petiole 2-3 cm, with 2-4(-6) small glands; leaf blade 5-7 × 6-8 cm, papery, base cordate, margin entire, palmately (3-)5(-9)-lobed; lobes ovate-oblong, middle lobe slightly larger than lateral lobes, glabrous. Inflorescence a reduced cyme, central flower not developed, one lateral branch converted to a tendril, flower opposite tendril; bracts broadly ovate, 2-3 cm, margin entire. Pedicel 3-4 cm. Flowers 6-8(-10) cm in diam. Sepals light green outside, white inside, 3-4.5 cm, awn 2-3 mm. Petals white to light green, 2.5-4 cm. Corona in 3 or 4 series, filamentous; outer 2 series (0.6-)1-1.5 cm, base dark purple, middle white, apex bright blue; inner 1 or 2 series 1-2 mm, base light green, apex white and capitate; operculum fimbricate, lobes dark purple, with annular nectary at base; disk 1-2 mm high; androgynophore 8-10 mm tall. Filaments ca. 1 cm, flat, free; anthers oblong, ca. 1.3 cm. Ovary ovoid-globose; styles free, purple, 6-8 mm; stigma reniform. Berry orange-yellow or yellow, ovoid-globose or subglobose, ca. 6 cm. Seeds many, obcordate, ca. 5 mm. Fl. May-Jul.

Cultivated. Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan [native to South America (N Argentina, S Brazil)].