Passiflora serratodigitata | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

Passiflora serratodigitata, information, classification, temperatures. etymology of Passiflora serratodigitata. Discover the Italian Passiflora Collection by Maurizio Vecchia.

Passiflora serratodigitata | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

Systematics (J. Macdougal et al., 2004)

SUBGENUS: passiflora
SUPERSECTION: laurifolia
SERIES: tiliifolia


GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OR ORIGIN:

 Guyane, Brazilian Amazon to the south of Bolivia and Peru.


MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 12 °C


IDEAL MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 15 °C


SYNONYMS:

 P. cearensis Bar. Rodr., P. digitata L., P. palmata Lodd., P. serrata L.


ETYMOLOGY:

Denomination due to the finely serrated foliar margin (Lat. serratus, sawtooth, serrate) and with finger-shaped lobes (Lat. digitatus finger-shaped, referring to foliar lobes). 


PHOTOGALLERY:


DESCRIPTION:

The large, palmate, glossy leaves of this plant, native to Brazil, Guyana and Bolivia, are exceptionally decorative. They are much larger and more robust than those of the common P. caerulea (which they resemble) and have a shiny, leathery surface. It is, in fact, a large, robust tropical passionflower that grows vigorously and rapidly. For the beauty and richness of its foliage as well as its bearing it can be used as a houseplant, at least until it grows too big.

Its palmate leaves measure about 15 x 17 cm, with 5-7 broad lanceolate lobes forming very narrow sinuses between them. In the median part of the petiole there are two asymmetrical glands.

The pendulous flowers, about 9 cm in diameter, are equally flamboyant. The sepals are white and fade to blue-violet at the edges. The petals, on the other hand, are a more intense and dominant pink, almost dark violet in the centre. Retracting backwards they emphasise the large and open very dark blue corona, with alternating white bands. The first two series of filaments grow apart from each other, the outermost ones tending towards the corolla while the others, in contrast, remain erect in the opposite direction. This creates a pleasant dynamic effect of colours and shapes.

P. serrato-digitata is not hardy and in winter must be sheltered in a well-lit room heated to at least 15°C. It grows well in large pots with rich soil. It propagates by seed and cuttings.