April_2017_Web

The Passion Flower
Botanical name: Passifloria Incarnarnata
From the family Passifloraceae
The naming of this climbing plant is attributed to the Christian
missionaries in South America in the 17th century, which thought
that the interesting arrangement of the petals reminded them of
the forms used at the crucifixion of Christ.
The flower shows the Crown of Thorns (corona filaments), white
with a blood red or purple tinge, suggesting the ‘Scourge with
which our Lord was tormented’. The colour red symbolises
sacrifice and suffering, purple hues denote meditation, while
white symbolises purity. There are seventy-two filaments and
according to tradition is the number of thorns set in the crown of
thorns placed on his head. The three nails (stigma) are in clear
green coming from the centre of the crown at the top of the
column, which is surrounded, by the crown of thorns. The colour
green symbolises hope and eternal life. In between, near the base
of the column there are five spots or stains (stamens) denoting
the five wounds Our Lord received on the cross. The many
leaves shaped like spearheads of the kind that pierced his side.
While the underside of the leaf is marked with dark round spots
signifying the pieces of silver, that Judas was paid to betray
Christ.
For many centuries, the healing properties of plants has been
recognised. The leaves of the Passifloria are believed to be
beneficial as the plant contains alkaloids, which is claimed to
produce a feeling of calm, being particularly useful for relieving
muscle tension due to anxiety. Also, in cases of travel sickness,
it is said to help to reduce the disturbance of the nervous system.
It is also a remedy for nervous insomnia. An infusion of tea
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