- Passiflora lutea
Taxobox
name = "Passiflora lutea"
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Passiflora lutea" flower
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Malpighiales
familia =Passifloraceae
genus = "Passiflora "
species = "P. lutea"
binomial = "Passiflora lutea"
binomial_authority = L."Passiflora lutea" (Yellow passionflower) is a
flowering plant in the familyPassifloraceae , nativeNorth America , in the eastern and south-central parts of theUnited States fromPennsylvania west toKansas , and south toFlorida andTexas . It is the northernmost species of "Passiflora", occurring slightly further north than "P. incarnata", and tolerant of winter temperatures down to −15 °C, and even −30 °C for short periods.It is a perennial
herbaceous climbing or trailingvine that can reach 3-5 m in length. The leaves are trilobed, 3-7 cm long and 3-15 cm broad, with a 5 cm petiole; in the north of its range, it isdeciduous . The common name as well as thescientific name refers to the small, 1-1.5 cm diameterchartreuse (yellow-green) or off-whiteflowers it produces in summer. The flowers are followed by small black berries that contain seeds that are brown and bumpy. "P. lutea" grows in bright shade to sunny places with moist, rich soil.Yellow passionflower is often good for
butterfly garden s, as it is a host for gulf fritillaries, julia butterflies ("Dryas julia"), andzebra longwing s ("Heliconius charitonius"). It is also the onlypollen source used by an unusual specialistbee , "Anthemurgus passiflorae ", which is the sole member of its genus; this rare bee is unusual in that despite its obligate relationship with the plant (oligolecty ), it does notpollinate it.Conservation
"P. lutea" is considered an endangered species in
Pennsylvania .References
*This article incorporates text translated from the Dutch wikipedia page on the species
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?26983 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Passiflora lutea"]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PALU2 USDA species profile: "Passiflora lutea"]
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