passionflower

American  

[pash-uhn-flou-er] / ˈpæʃ ənˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. any chiefly American climbing vine or shrub of the genus Passiflora, having showy flowers and a pulpy berry or fruit that in some species is edible.

---

passionflower British  

/ ˈpæʃənˌflaʊə /

noun

1. any passifloraceous plant of the tropical American genus Passiflora, cultivated for their red, yellow, greenish, or purple showy flowers: some species have edible fruit See also granadilla

---

Etymology

Origin of passionflower

1605–15; translation of New Latin flōs passiōnis flower of the Passion; so named because the parts of the flower were imagined as symbolic of the objects and events of Christ's Passion

Example Sentences

Herbs that are often promoted for relaxation, stress relief or sleep include valerian root, passionflower, lemon balm and ashwagandha, among others.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

My chiropractor recommended valerian root, magnesium and passionflower extract.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2021

The bird’s beak evolved to gather nectar from flowers with long tubular corollas, including a passionflower that is deeply reliant on the avian rapier for pollination.

From National Geographic • Apr. 18, 2018

First come the time lapses, with shots of passionflower vines reaching toward the sun.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2013

Black-eyed Susans climbed one of the walls, and a passionflower vine decorated another.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer