passionflower family

passionflower family
Family Passifloraceae, composed of about 600 species of herbaceous or woody vines, shrubs, and trees in 20 genera.

Members of this family grow mostly in warm regions. Many species produce edible fruits. Members of the largest genus, Passiflora, are highly prized for their showy, unusual flowers. A pedestal-like structure in the centre of the flower carries the reproductive parts of both sexes. The passionflower blossom is often used to symbolize events in the last hours (Passion) of Jesus, which accounts for the name of the group.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • passionflower family — noun tropical woody tendril climbing vines • Syn: ↑Passifloraceae, ↑family Passifloraceae • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot family • Member Holonyms: ↑Parietales, ↑order Parietales, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • passionflower — [pash′ən flou΄ər] n. [from the supposed resemblance of parts of the flowers to Jesus wounds, crown of thorns, etc.] any of a genus (Passiflora) of mostly climbing plants of the passionflower family, with red, yellow, green, white, or purple… …   English World dictionary

  • passionflower — noun Etymology: from the fancied resemblance of parts of the flower to the instruments of Christ s crucifixion Date: 1633 any of a genus (Passiflora of the family Passifloraceae, the passionflower family) of chiefly tropical woody tendriled… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • family — /fam euh lee, fam lee/, n., pl. families, adj. n. 1. parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not. 2. the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a large family. 3. the spouse and children …   Universalium

  • family Passifloraceae — noun tropical woody tendril climbing vines • Syn: ↑Passifloraceae, ↑passionflower family • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot family • Member Holonyms: ↑Parietales, ↑order Parietales, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • passionflower — noun a) any of very many North American vines, of the family Passifloraceae, that bear edible fruit, called passion fruit. b) the flower of this plant See Also: Passiflora, passion fruit …   Wiktionary

  • dilleniid dicot family — noun family of more or less advanced dicotyledonous trees and shrubs and herbs • Hypernyms: ↑dicot family, ↑magnoliopsid family • Hyponyms: ↑Capparidaceae, ↑family Capparidaceae, ↑caper family, ↑Cruciferae, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • genus Passiflora — noun type genus of the Passifloraceae • Syn: ↑Passiflora • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Passifloraceae, ↑family Passifloraceae, ↑passionflower family …   Useful english dictionary

  • Passiflora — noun type genus of the Passifloraceae • Syn: ↑genus Passiflora • Hypernyms: ↑dilleniid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Passifloraceae, ↑family Passifloraceae, ↑passionflower family …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hypericales — noun a large order of dicotyledonous plants of subclass Dilleniidae • Syn: ↑Parietales, ↑order Parietales, ↑order Hypericales • Hypernyms: ↑plant order • Member Holonyms: ↑Dilleniidae, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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