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Passion flower (Passiflora; syn. Disemma Labill.) is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants in the family Passifloraceae. They are mostly vines, with some being shrubs, and a few species being herbaceous. "Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of Crucifixion. For example: the 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds. The flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe since that time. In Spain, it is known as Espina de Cristo (Christ's Thorn). In Germany it was once known as Muttergottes-Schuzchen (Mother-of-God's Star). In Japan, they are known as clock-faced flowers, and recently have become a symbol for homosexual youths. In North America
they are also called the Maypop, the water lemon, and the wild
apricot (after its fruit). Native Americans in the Tennessee
area called it ocoee, and the Ocoee river and valley are named
after it. (Source: Wikipedia) |
It is estimated that in the UK alone the domestic market for garden products is over £5 billion, including conservatories. (Read the report)
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