The local peoples refer to it as ouvaca, meaning "red star" due to the appearance of its flower. Other names include fragrant grenadilla, and maracuja de refresco.[3] The specific epithetalata means "winged", referring to the 4-winged stems.[4]
Description
The leaves are oval or oblong, 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 1–10 cm (0–4 in) wide. The fragrant flower is 7–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, with red curved tepals, and a prominent fringed corona in bands of purple and white giving the appearance of stripes.[3] It usually blooms around late summer or early fall, needing full sun exposure. These flowers are unique (with one other species Pasiflora xiikzodz) in having eight concentric coronas divided into five types; radii, pali. the operculum, the limen, and the trochlea, the most of any known plant.,[5][6]P. alata attracts bees, butterflies and birds.
The solitary fruit is highly prized by local people. It is egg-shaped, yellow to bright orange, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter. It weighs from 90–300 g (3–11 oz).
In Brazil, P. alata is officially recognized as a phytomedicine, and was included in first edition of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia in 1929. It is well known in folk medicine throughout South America, though the exact pharmacological composition of the plant is little understood and requires more study.
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