Revision of Passiflora Subgenus Decaloba ... - Passion Flowers

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locality data on the specimen. The holotype of P. coriacea consists of two leaves
and a small portion of the stem and does not resemble the type drawing of the
species, but written on the specimen are locality and descriptive data in Jussieu's
hand.
Passiflora coriacea is extremely similar to P. sexocellata and P. megacoriacea
in its vegetative morphology, but is easily distinguished by its flowers. The
flowers of P. coriacea possess long floral stipes as compared to their pedicels
(the stipes are usually two to three times the length of the pedicels) and an
operculum that is dark reddish purple. Passiflora sexocellata has floral stipes
that are commonly shorter than or equal in length to the pedicels and an
operculum that is greenish yellow with a flush of dark reddish purple at the base
and a white margin. Passiflora megacoriacea possesses floral stipes that are
commonly less than half the length of the pedicels and an operculum that is
greenish yellow with a white margin or greenish yellow with a mere flush of
reddish purple at the base and a white margin. Passiflora coriacea is also
distinguished by outer coronal filaments that may appear banded with light
reddish purple. In addition, the outer coronal filaments are more dilated distally,
much like P. megacoriacea but in contrast to P. sexocellata. The limen floor in P.
coriacea is very light greenish yellow with dark reddish purple spots and streaks,
again much like P. megacoriacea. Passiflora sexocellata usually possesses a
very dark red limen floor.
Schlechtendal (1854) attempted to use mostly vegetative characters to
distinguish P. coriacea from P. sexocellata; incidentally, he was the first to notice