Passiflora foetida

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Botanical Name/Scientific Name: Passiflora foetida
Genus: Passiflora
Synonym: Passiflora foetida var. gossypiifolia (Desv. ex Ham.) Mast.
Common/Local Name(s): wild maracuja, stinking passionflower, or love-in-a-mist.
Family: Passifloraceae

Botanical Description: Passiflora foetida is a rapidly growing perennial vine that can spread extensively with the help of its tendrils. It typically covers the ground or climbs over other vegetation. The stems are thin, hairy, and equipped with coiling tendrils that help the plant climb. The leaves of Passiflora foetida are deeply three-lobed, ranging from 4 to 12 cm in length, with a serrated margin. They are green and covered with fine hairs. The plant has a unique defense mechanism involving sticky hairs on the leaf surface that can trap small insects, protecting the plant from some herbivorous pests. The flowers are striking, about 5 to 7 cm in diameter, with fringed coronal filaments that are typically pink or red at the base and white towards the tips. The flowers emit a somewhat unpleasant smell, which is more noticeable when they are crushed—hence the name "foetida" (Latin for "stinking"). The plant flowers throughout the year in tropical climates, with peaks depending on local conditions. The fruit is a small, round berry, initially green, turning orange as it matures. It is surrounded by an involucre of sticky bracts, which also have a protective function.
Flowering/Fruiting: Flowers throughout the year.
Plant Uses: Medicinal Uses, Edible fruit and Ornamental Use.
Origin: Introduced
Locality: Ogbogene Oil Field , Onelga Rivers State.
Habit: Climber
Mode: Wild