Their colors vary, but always are entrancing. Some are knocked down by cold, while others try to smother the house. But no matter their qualities, passion flowers are stunning, delicate creations of nature.
These flower-dotted vines are named not for romantic love, but for the Passion of Jesus, at least in European cultures. Spanish missionaries decided various parts of the flower represented elements of the crucifixion, from the soldiers' whips to the crown of thorns, the nails on the cross and Jesus' wounds. They said the 10 petals and sepals represent apostles, but they left out Judas and Peter.
It may not be a perfect analogy, but one can understand their fascination with these elaborate flowers, the majority of which are native to South America.
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