How did passionfruit get its name?

Answer 1

The Passion fruit gets its name from Catholic (Spanish) missionaries to South America; the parts of the flower reminded them of Jesus' passion for humanity on the cross. In their eyes:

- The flower's radial filaments (corona threads) represent the crown of thorns.

- The 3 stigmas (the tall female part of the flower) represent the 3 nails that held Jesus on the cross (one in each arm and one through both feet).

- The 5 anthers (the shorter male parts of the flower) below the stigmas represented the 5 major wounds of Jesus (four wounds by the nails and one by a lance or spear).

- The 5 petals and the 5 sepals together represent the 10 faithful apostles (excluding the betraying Judas and the denying Peter of the twelve).

- The vine's tendrils represent the whips that flogged Jesus.

- The pointed tips of the leaves represent the spear that pierced Jesus' side to prove that he was dead.

- The chalice (goblet) shaped ovary and receptacle of the flower represented the Holy Grail from the Last Supper.

- The blue and white colors of the petals represent Heaven and Purity. Some species of Passionfruit have red flowers which could be said to represent Jesus' blood.

Other names given to this plant display the given symbolism more obviously such as the Spanish "Espina de Cristo" meaning "Christ's Thorn". In other old European languages it is called "Christ's Crown", "Christ's Bouquet", and "Jesus' Passion". These of course are from cultures based in Christianity during the 15th and 16th centuries when the flower was found by Europeans.