Passiflora sicyoides | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

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

Passiflora sicyoides | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

Systematics (J. Macdougal et al., 2004)

SUBGENUS: decaloba
SUPERSECTION: bryonioides


GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OR ORIGIN:

 Mexico


MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 10 °C


IDEAL MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: 12 °C


SYNONYMS:

P. odora Link & Otto, Decaloba sicyoides M. Roemer,


ETYMOLOGY:

From the Greek σίκυος sícyos melon or other cucurbit, and from εἶδος eídos appearance, appearance: it has some resemblance to that of the Sicyos angulatus (Cucurbitaceae).


PHOTOGALLERY:


DESCRIPTION:

This passionflower has created much confusion around its identification! It is a variable species with features in common with P. bryonioides, P. warmingii, P. morifolia and others, all belonging to the supersection Bryonioides of the subgenus Decaloba. Its homeland is in Mexico, where it lives in the eastern Sierra Madre at low altitude, and in other neighbouring regions.

In nature, it reaches a length of about 5 metres. The shoots, stems and leaves are pubescent, sometimes bristly.

The leaves, with a delta-cordate shape, are made up of three triangular lobes. The apices are acute, the leaf margin denticulated.

The flowers are only 4 cm in diameter and are pleasantly scented. The petals and sepals are white and ovate in shape. The corona, composed of a single series of thin filaments, is white at the apex and purple at the base, forming two bands of contrasting colour.

The elongated fruits, about 3 cm in diameter, are black or very dark purple and contain an intense orange aril, similar to that of P. morifolia.

Lacking any particular aesthetic qualities, this plant is only sought after by collectors as a 'curiosity'. However, it is a lively, pleasant climber, to be grown in pots in rich, well-drained soil. It needs frequent watering, enriched weekly with liquid fertiliser. It does not tolerate low temperatures. In winter, therefore, it is necessary to keep it in a greenhouse.

Propagation is done with cuttings or seeds.