Passionflowers have been blooming for a couple of months. The other day we watched a bee tromping aroundunder the peculiar anthers, which are shaped like Thor’s hammers. They’re yellow-green.
Those parts were dusting the bee’s back and wings. The purple passionflower has purple threads called corona filaments on top of the petals. The bee was abdomen deep in them. The bee appeared to be drinking from the center of the flower, which is a nectary.
Passiflora edulis had several blossoms. On this day, each had its bee. The nectary is at the base of the stem holding the pollen-trapping stigma, ovary and stamens. The nectary is protected by the operculum, a series of fibrous hairs that form something that looks a little like a cattle guard.
Passiflora was named for the Passion of Christ. It was a teaching tool for the 16th century Spanish missionaries who saw in the corona the crown of thorns. The metaphor became more and more elaborate. The five petals and five sepals were the 10 faithful apostles, reminding us that Peter denied and Judas betrayed.
The first time I saw the vine I was puzzled, so I asked.
The reply: “It’s Stinking Passion Flower.”
I thought “stinking” was a pejorative indicating this lovely, but exotic looking vine was just another invasive species. But Passiflora foetida is a native. If you’re puzzled by the fetid odor referred to in the scientific name, just crush a leaf or stem.
P. foetida traps insects in its bracts, which exude a sticky “glue” that contains digestive enzymes. The Botanical Society of America says it’s protocarnivorous.
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