Stinking Passionfruit

Binomial name : Passiflora foetida
Common name : Small passionfruit or stinking passionfruit

the foetida part of the binomial name refers to the smell of the foliage when it is crushed.


This is another weed in my property that I leave now as the small yellow fruit are quite sweet to eat ( the pulp part). It is a seasonal weed, being present in summer and is not too invasive on my property. It seems quite happy growing in a couple of quite dry areas.

Identification:

It is a vine, like normal passionfruit, with soft pale green velvety leaves.
The fruit is enclosed in 3 small spidery bracts – the ripe fruit is yellow
with a thin skin and drops to the ground. I have found some chewed fruit
on the ground so no doubt some furry friends like it as well. The bracts exude a sticky substance with digestive enzymes that can trap small insects.It is considered to be a protocarnivorous plant because of this ability but it is uncertain if the plant derives any benefit
from it.

History and Uses:

The leaves are eaten in Asia - cooked or steamed with rice
The Vietnamese use the leaves to make a tea for insomnia.

Parts to use

pulp from ripe seeds as substitute for normal passionfruit.
leaves - do contain cyanide and thus should to be cooked.


Medical (pubmed and Scirus) reports:

One scientific article of interest I found was a report of an extract of the stem being used as a skin whitening agent.

An extract of this plant inhibited 2 enzymes (MMP-2 and MMP-9) involved tumour growth and spread thus it many have an anticancer effect.

It may also have an insect repellant effect (ermanin -a flavonoid component was found to do this).

A leaf extract also was found to have considerable antibacteral action against Strep viridans and 3 other important human pathogens.


Conclusion:

The pulp of the fruits as mentioned is sweet to eat. We have not used the leaves at all but it seems they can be utilised as a potherb.