Passiflora edulis f. edulis
NPPA pest plant
Common names
black passionfruit
Family
Passifloraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Lianes & Related Trailing Plants - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. Forest margins and shrubland in frost-free areas.
Detailed description
Vigorous vine, glabrous except for pistil and stamens. Shoots slightly angular. Leaves deeply 3-lobed, but entire on young plants; up to 15 cm long on mature plants. Solitary flowers up to 10 cm across with white petals and filaments largely white but purple towards base, hypanthium inconspicuous. Dark purple round fruit containing sweet orange pulp and small black seeds.
Similar taxa
Most similar to P. caerulea in flower, but this species has leaves with 5 lobes.
Flowering
July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Year naturalised
1950
Origin
tropical America
Etymology
passiflora: Passionflower
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Reason For Introduction
Agricultural
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial. can live for a long time, often succumbs to fungal infections.
Reproduction
Reproduces by seed, probably some stem layering.
Seed
Many seeds are produced.
Dispersal
Tends to be spread by people but birds can also spread seeds to remote sites.
Tolerances
Intolerant of frosts. Prefers high light sites.
References and further reading
Heenan, PB; Sykes, WR 2003. Passiflora (Passifloraceae) in New Zealand: a revised key with notes on distribution. NZ J Botany 41: 217-221. DOI: 10.1080/0028825X.2003.9512842