252 LUTHER BURBANK 



Improving the Passion Flower for 

 Its Fruit 



There is another vine, known everywhere by 

 name at least, and famed for its flowers, that has 

 fruit possibilities that have been almost totally 

 neglected. This is the celebrated Passion 

 Flower, a plant represented by many species of 

 tropical and subtropical habitat, of which two 

 at least wander as far north as the southern por- 

 tion of the United States. 



The name Passion Flower was given to these 

 plants by the early Spanish missionaries, because 

 they thought they saw in the blossoms an em- 

 blem of the crucifixion. 



According to an early description of the 

 blossoms, the filaments were thought to re- 

 semble a blood-colored fringe suggesting the 

 scourge; the column in the center was said 

 to represent the cross; the filaments on which 

 the pollen sacs were borne, three in number, 

 represented nails; and a peculiar arrange- 

 ment of floral organs encircling the top 

 of the blossoms did service for the crown 

 of thorns. 



To complete the picture, five spots or stains 

 of the color of blood found on the petals were 

 said to represent five wounds. 



