Passionflowers (Passifloraceae) are a fascinating plant
family. Because of their exotic and complex flowers they
have found a group of dedicated followers
that attempt to put many species into horticulture and create
numerous hybrids that are often in some way superior to
their parents. Additionally some species are economically
important because of their delicious fruit.
Equally fascinating is the wide variety of leaf shapes
within the Passifloraceae, and many species have ornamental
value for their foliage alone.
Ecologically they are interesting because of their close
relationship with a group of butterflies known as Heliconiinae
(Longwing butterflies or Passionflower butterflies). Nearly
every passionflower is host to at least one Heliconid butterfly.
A total of 23 Passionflowers are recorded
from the wild in Belize. These 23 species belong to various
"subgenera". For the sake of convenience, the
pictorial species list is split up in two according to subgenus.
Part 1 has the members
of the Subgenus Decaloba
and Deidamioides.
Part 2 has the subgenera
Astrophea,
and Passiflora
A vegetative
Key for the Passionflowers of Belize was published by
Jan Meerman in 1996. New description of a Belizean passionflower
MacDougal
and Meerman, 2004 (pdf)
To
Passionflowers part 1 |
To Passionflowers
part 2 |
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