THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Passion Flower

Lisa Karen Miller

When Spanish explorers in South America first laid eyes on this beautiful flower, they saw in it not only a symbol of Christ’s passion, but a heavenly reassurance that their mission to spread their faith to a new world would succeed.

In Christianity, the “passion of Christ” refers to the short, final period in his life, in which he endures suffering. Medieval passion plays reenacted this period, including his road to Calvary and his crucifixion.

Jacomo Bosio, who obtained his knowledge from Mexican Jesuits, claimed, “It would seem as if the Creator of the world had chosen it to represent the principle emblems of His Son’s Passion; so that in due season it might assist, when its marvels should be explained to them, in the condition of the heathen people, in whose country it grew.”

The first step in colonization is to divest the natives of their culture. The Church, heavily invested in such expeditions, actively converted the original inhabitants. Passiflora was the perfect visual aid to teach them about the crucifixion of the new god they were expected to worship.

Domination, after all, is so much easier if we’re all singing from the same hymn book.

The five anthers represent the five wounds, the triple style the three nails, the central receptacle the pillar of the cross, the filament (or corona) the crown of thorns, the calyx the halo, and the ten petals the ten true disciples.

Symbolizing faith, piety, and suffering, Christ’s Story Flower, when brought into the home, promotes peacefulness, calms trouble, and resolves problems. Carry a blossom to attract friends, and place one under your pillow to bring on a deep and restful sleep. It also has the reputed ability to increase libido.

Known locally as Maypop, this plant’s oval fruits contain an edible white pulp that can be made into a refreshing drink or even ice cream. Native Americans used the entire plant to treat swollen or irritated eyes, and the root as a general tonic. The leaves yield a non-addictive sedative that treats insomnia and relieves anxiety. 

The genus contains some 500 species, which can be annual, perennial, shrubs, or even trees.  Native to the southeastern U.S., wild varieties can sometimes be found in meadows or along the roadside. Cultivated varieties do best in full to partial sun in well-drained soil. If grown as a houseplant, they will bloom but not fruit.

Passion flowers remind us that everyone suffers: carpenters, conquerors, and the conquered.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller