What is a passion flower?

Answer 1

"Passionflower" refers to a number of plants in the Passiflora genus. Most typically, it refers to Passiflora incarnata, also called "maypop". This species, like many of the species of passionflower, is used in traditional herbal medicine to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Also, as the name suggests, it is used as an aphrodisiac (to increase sexual desire). Both of these uses have some scientific evidence supporting them.

Passionflower also grows a fruit, which is related to, but not the same as passion fruit. The fruit is called a maypop, and has no medicinal effects.

The dried herb, stems, leaves, and whole plant, is used to produce an herbal tea. It is relatively inexpensive but not widely available; you can order it online through a few providers of bulk herbs, or buy it locally in speciality herb shops, particularly those who have medicinal herbs.

Answer 2

They have a wide, flat petal base with several rings of filaments in the center. This surround a stalk of sorts, that holds up the ovary and stamens. They are normally purple and white.