The Passion of Christ @ Passion Flower

Passiflora, is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants.

Passiflora is grown for the passionfruits ( P. edulis, P. foetida, P. incarnate, P. laurifolia, P. ligularis, P. maliformis, P. quadrangularis ) and passionflowers ( P. alata, P. aurantia, P. biflora, P. coccinea, P. citrine, P. racemosa, P. rubra  ).

The ‘passion’ in passion flowers or passion fruits refers to the passion of Jesus Christ.

In the 15^th and 16^th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plants, especially the flowers, as symbol of the last days of Jesus and his crucifixion:

•  the pointed tips of the leaves represent the Holy Lance.

( Instead, on of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  John 19:34 )

• the tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ.  

( Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  John 19:1 )

• the 10 petals and sepals represent the 10 faithful apostles ( excluding Peter the denial and Judas Iscariot the betrayer )

• the flower’s radial filaments, can numbered > 100 and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns

( The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.   John 19:2 ).

• the chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail

• the 3 stigmas represent the 3 nails

• the 5 anthers represent 5 wounds ( four by nails and one by the lance )

( … “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will no beilieve.”  John 20:24 )

• the blue and white colour represent Heaven and Purity