Passiflora arbelaezii | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

DESCRIPTION:

P. arbelaezii is an unusual species, in fact it has characteristics not common within the genus. It is among the few species that are equipped with branched tendrils ending in adhesive discs. For this and other particularities, it has been assigned to the subgenus Deidamioides, section Tryphostemmatoides together with P. discophora, P. tryphostemmatoides and P. gracillima to which it closely resembles.
Its small leaves (up to 7 x 6 cm) are ovate with central rib.
The flowers of about 3.5 cm. are white with a yellow tinge in the center.
The flower is enriched by a crown formed by three sets of white filaments which, like the petals and sepals, fade to light yellow. The outer and larger one has a diameter of about 2 cm, and is made thicker by two other sets of short filaments.
The fruits are ovoid, 4,5 cm x 3,5 cm, of yellow-red colour when ripe, containing wrinkled seeds.
This small species, with limited rusticity, is easy to grow and resists well the stresses caused by growing in a greenhouse.  It is a passiflora for collectors. It does not bloom easily if not when it has been established for years. It is normally multiplied by such, as its seeds are difficult to find.