14 Jan Passion flower or fruit
Passiflora subpeltata, P. edulis, P. foetida, P. suberosa, P. mollissima
Even the popular edible Passion fruit
spp have become problematic weeds
of bushland, mainly because of human
negligence discarding unwanted fruit
or merely failing to harvest.
Family: Passifloraceae
Origin: Chiefly tropical South America
Habit: Vigorous climber with tendrils.
Leaves: Varying with species; from 10mm up to 150mm long; generally
3-lobed some times ovate; pale green with powdery film and
blunt tips to dark green with pointed tips.
Flowers: Passion flowers are very distinctive in shape. They range from
1-5cm across with colours from plain white to white blotched
purple, pinks and reds; 5-10 petals; numerous cream/yellow
stamens and a prominent divided stigma. Spring-Summer.
Fruit: Globe-shaped drupe, generally pulpy 15-50mm long, glossy,
yellow, green, red or purple/black.
Roots: Lateral roots form at right angle to stem, break easily when
pulled, re-shoot from remnant root stock.
Dispersal: Seeds spread by humans, water, animals and garden
refuse dumping.
Control: Scrape and Paint, Cut and treat root system, Foliar spray
with penetrant.
