Passifloraceae is a family of plants including trees, shrubs, herbaceous or woody vines. It is also called the Passionflower Family and it is from the order of Malpighiales. Most of the members are tropical. Passifloraceae includes about 27 genera and about 750 species. A well-known member is the passion fruit.
Other names or synonyms for this family include Malesherbiaceae, Modeccaceae, Paropsiaceae, and Turneraceae. Most of the plants are from Africa and Neotropics. The largest genus is the Passiflora with almost 525 species.
Many of the climber members have tendrils grown from the leaf axils that help them climb. Most Passifloraceae members have simple, alternate, spirally arranged leaves. The flowers are radially symmetrical. They range from bisexual to just male or female. They have about five petals and sepals and stamens. Ovaries and stamens are androgynophores. Most seeds have an aril. The fruits are either capsules or berries.
Some of the Passifloraceae members have medicinal benefits and have been used in traditional medical practices. Some are used for economics such as food:
Passiflora edulis
Passiflora alata
Passiflora cincinnata
Passiflora platyloba
Passiflora maliformis
Passiflora foetida
Passiflora tarminiana
Passiflora ligularis
Passiflora quadrangularis
Passifloraceae subfamilies include:
Malesherbioideae
Passifloroideae
Turneroideae
The genera in the Passifloraceae family include:
Adenia
Adenoa
Ancistrothyrsus
Androsiphonia
Anthactinia
Arboa
Astephananthes
Astrophea
Baldwinia
Barteria
Basananthe
Blephistelma
Bohadschia
Cieca
Crossostemma
Decaloba
Deidamia
Dilkea
Disemma
Distemma
Distephana
Efulensia
Erblichia
Erndelia
Granadilla
Gynopleura
Hounea
Hyalocalyx
Jaeggia
Jaracatia
Keramanthus
Kolbia
Loewia
Lortetia
Malesherbia
Mathurina
Microblepharis
Mitostemma
Modecca
Murucuja
Odostelma
Ophiocaulon
Paropsia
Paropsiopsis
Passiflora
Piriqueta
Schlechterina
Senapea
Smeathmannia
Stapfiella
Streptopetalum
Tacsonia
Tetrapathaea
Tetrastylis
Triacis
Tricliceras
Tryphostemma
Turnera
Vasconcellosia
Viridivia
Wormskioldia
