Passiflora venusta | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

DESCRIPTION:

Passiflora venusta is a relatively recent species, described in 2007 by R. Vásquez and M. Delanoy, and assigned to the series Laurifoliae of the subgenus Passiflora. It is endemic to Bolivia, where it grows naturally in the humid forests of the Yungas, between 600 and 1600 metres of altitude. It has been found in the departments of La Paz and Beni, along forest edges and pathsides, where the climate is warm and consistently humid, with frequent rainfall and minimal temperature variation.

I saw this species in bloom for the first time in 2013 and was immediately struck by the elegance of its large flowers, among the most beautiful of the group. I took many photographs, fascinated by the harmony of the forms and the richness of the colours. On that occasion, I even managed to obtain a fruit from an experimental cross, although unfortunately none of the seeds germinated.

The flower of Passiflora venusta is large, well-balanced and perfectly symmetrical. The sepals, sturdy and slightly keeled, display on the inner surface an intense reddish-purple hue densely speckled, fading to white along the margins and apex. The outer surface is pale and matt, almost velvety. The petals, similar to the sepals but slightly narrower and of a lighter shade, complete a broad and regular corolla with a star-like outline.

At the centre opens the corona, composed of dense series of firm filaments arranged with remarkable precision. The outer filaments, curved towards the corolla, show at their base alternating bands of violet-red and white, continuing in deep purple and ending with white tips. The inner filaments, with a similar basal colour pattern, continue in a uniform dark violet tone and are directed towards the heart of the flower. The overall effect creates a sense of depth that enhances the brightness of the lighter parts.

The flower retains the typical structure of the Laurifoliae group but surpasses it in elegance and colour intensity. The balance between red, white and violet produces a refined and luminous harmony, further emphasised by the contrast with the dull green of the leaves. It is a flower that combines vigour and grace, perfectly adapted to the filtered light of the Yungas understory.

Passiflora venusta is a glabrous or nearly glabrous liana, with cylindrical and sturdy stems. The leaves, entire and leathery, are oblong-lanceolate in shape, with an acuminate apex and entire margin, glossy green on the upper surface and paler beneath. They too display a certain firmness, a trait that characterises the whole plant.