This interesting looking flower comes from the perennial climbing vine that also has a sturdy woody stem. They are commonly refer to as Passionflower or Passionvines. It’s name originated from the Spanish Christian missionaries as the flower resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the crucifixion.
But in other parts of the world such Japan and Israel, it is refer to as the “Clock Plant.” I can see the resemblance to the clock here too.
A good description of the origin of the name “Passionflower” by Kew Botanical Gardens:
They called it the passion flower because they thought that it symbolised the death of Christ. The five sepals and five petals of the flower, which are similar in appearance, represent the disciples without Peter and Judas. The double row of coloured filaments, known as the corona, signifies to some the halo around Christ’s head and to others the crown of thorns. The five stamens and the three spreading styles with their flattened heads symbolise the wounds and the nails respectively. The tendrils resemble the whips used to scourge Christ and the lobed leaves look similar to the clutching hands of the soldiers.
There are about 500 species of this flower, but only 55 species of Passiflora are grown for their edible fruit. There are also many that are not edible, so you have to be careful not to eat the wrong one.
I once bought some passion fruit at the Santa Barbara farmer’s market. I don’t see them anywhere in Northern California, as they grow in warmer areas.
