Passiflora species

Passiflora alata, Passiflora cincinnata, Passiflora edulis, Passiflora quadrangularis

POPULAR NAMES: Maracujá doce, Sweet Passion Fruit (P. alata); Maracujá peroba (P. cincinnata); Maracujá de suco, Juice Passion Fruit (P. edulis); Maracujá açú (P. quadrangularis)

PASSIFLORA EDULIS VAR. FLAVICARPA

PASSIFLORA EDULIS - NATIVE

PASSIFLORA EDULIS – CROSSING OF TWO VARIETIES ABOVE

PASSIFLORA ALATA

PASSIFLORA CINCINNATA

PASSIFLORA QUADRANGULARIS

INDIGENOUS NAME: Maracujá comes from the Tupi-Guarani and means "food in the bowl" formed because of the fruit and the adjectives to the species mean Açú - "great" and Peroba "of bitter bark."

ORIGIN: The species of P. edulis and P. edulis Alata occur in several forest formations in southeastern and southern Brazil, whereas P. cincinnata appears more often in the savannah and northern Pantanal and P. quadrangularis is endemic to the Amazonas Rainforest, Brazil.

Characteristics: All are robust woody climbers of 5 to 10 meters (17 to 33 feet) in the length with greyish brown woody basal stems, with 3 to 6 cm in diameter. The branches are glossy (not hairy), semi-angular dark green in color with internodes of spaced 2 to 8.5 cm of states with distance (laminar formation in the base of the leaves). P. alata has simple and large leaves, characterized by a laminar tissue in the branches and flowers with red petals. The P. edulis leaves has trilobates with 3 cuttings by means of blade (leaf) with white flowers. The P. cincinnata has leaves with 5 cuttings and flowers of deep violet color. P. quadrangularis is also simple, and ribbed membranes notable, but its branches are quadrilateral and their flowers have white veritcal petals (male type does not have fertile stamens).

Planted in the site of Frutas Raras: With the exception of Passiflora quadrangularis that was planted in October 2006 and not bear fruit, the other species are replanted every 3 years in the property.

Tips for cultivation: Fast growing climber that resists temperatures to 0°C (32°F) degree, and grows at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,000 m (1,333 to 3,333 feet) sea level. The soil should be deep, moist, neutral pH (6.6), with sandy or clay formation (red soil). You must plant at least 2 plants to get better cross-pollination and fruiting. You must make an espalier with horizontal wires forming a mesh of 40 cm (1 1/3 feet) between wires to sustain the plant. The plants begin fruiting in the 1st year for most species, from the 2nd year in the case of Maracujá Açu.

Propagation: The seeds are flat, recalcitantes (which loses the germinative power quickly). Germination occurs in 30 to 45 days in any type of substrate rich in organic matter, porous, left in a gray color. The seedlings grow rapidly and in 4 months they can go to the final place. In the nursery you should take care of the caterpillars of butterflies that eat the plants completely. It is better to plant them at the beginning of summer, however, for the Maracujá açú is necessary to make a cover to shade the plant in the first year after planting and to protect from frost in winter.

Planting: Can be planted in full sun and shade in forests with large well spaced trees in this situation takes longer to bear fruit. Space between plants 4 x 4 m (13 x 13 feet). The espalier should have 6 pillars, in the distances of 2 m (7 feet) between them and 3 meters (10 feet) between the pairs, with height of 1.60 m (5 1/3 feet) to ease the harvesting of fruits. Add the 400 g of lime pit and 1 kg of ash and 8 liters of organic matter. Water every fifteen days during the first 3 months, if water is lacking.

Cultivating: Make only forming pruning and remove shoots that were grown at the base of the stem, manage the branches by a mentor and continue tying the vine until the branches do not fall. Fertilize with organic compost, may be (4 liters) of poultry litter and mixed with 20 g of NPK 10-10-10 during September-October, distributed them to 30 cm from the stem. Keep mulch around the foot to maintain humidity.

Uses: The fruits are consumed in natura, with sugar or in the form of juices and other sweet dishes.