Passifloraceae, commonly known as the Passionflower Family, is a family of flowering plants belonging to the order Malpighiales. It encompasses a diverse range of plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous or woody vines.
Passifloraceae is predominantly distributed in tropical regions, with most of its members originating from Africa and the Neotropics. The family comprises approximately 27 genera and around 750 species.
One of the most well-known members of Passifloraceae is the passion fruit, which belongs to the genus Passiflora. Passiflora is the largest genus within the family, encompassing almost 525 species. Passionflowers are known for their intricate and often vibrant flowers, as well as their edible fruits.
Passifloraceae has also been referred to by other names or synonyms, including Malesherbiaceae, Modeccaceae, Paropsiaceae, and Turneraceae. These alternative names were previously used to classify certain groups of plants within the family.
Overall, Passifloraceae showcases a remarkable diversity of forms and species, with its members displaying unique and fascinating characteristics. The passion fruit, with its delicious edible fruit, is among the most popular and widely cultivated representatives of this family.
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
