1. Passiflora, Linn.

Climbing shrubs. Leaves simple or palmately lobed or divided, often with glands on the undersurface and petiole; tendrils axillary. Flowers axillary, solitary or racemose. Calyx-tube short, lobes 4–5. Petals 4–5, rarely wanting, inserted on the throat of the calyx. Corona of one or several rings of coloured filaments arising from the calyx-tube. Stamens as many as the calyx-lobes; filaments adnate to the stalk of the ovary; anthers versatile. Ovary superior, elevated on a long stalk or gynophore, 1-celled; styles 3; stigmas capitate. Fruit succulent or pulpy, indehiscent or obscurelv 3-valved.

A large genus of over 120 species, chiefly tropical, and most plentiful in South America. The New Zealand species is endemic, and constitutes the section Tetrapathæa, characterized by the unisexual tetramerous flowers and ebracteate peduncles.