The passion flower grows in the southernmost parts of the United States, all the way down through Central and South America. It got its name from missionaries to South America who said the plant recalls the passion of Christ. The Latin word is passio(n) (suffering). The early missionaries used the plant as a symbol of the death of Christ. The five sepals and five petals of the flower are said to represent the disciples without Peter and Judas. I can understand their taking Judas out of the picture... but why Peter? The double row of colored filaments, known as the corona, signifies the halo around Christ’s head; it is sometimes said to represent the crown of thorns. The five stamens and the three spreading styles with their flattened heads symbolize the wounds and the nails respectively. The vines tendrils resemble the whips used to scourge Christ.

I can understand why the church wants something as beautiful as this flower to represent Christ; but I should like it to represent all the goodness and beauty in mankind without recalling suffering and death. Although I have never eaten one, the blossoms are edible... said to be used as a sedative, hypnotic, anti-spasmodic, and analgesic. There is no claim that it will cure what ails you, but many midwives and herbalists insist it can make you feel better, especially in combination with other herbs like chamomile. Move over medical marijuana. Here comes passion.