PASSION FLOWER FAMILY 



monks meditated upon the wonderful plants that surrounded 

 them and, quick to take advantage of every opportunity, they saw 

 that these floral organs might be used as convenient symbols of 

 the crucifixion; so they utilized the blossom in their teachings 

 and named it the Flower of the Passion. The styles were the three 

 nails; the stamens the hammers that drove then\ in, or, as others 

 put it, the anthers are the five wounds, the corona is either the 

 crown of thorns or the rays of glory. As the floral leaves were 

 but ten and these were the apostles, the matter had to be ex- 

 plained; only ten were present, Judas and Peter were absent, 

 the one having betrayed and the other denied his Master. The 

 palmate leaves were the hands of the persecutors and the cling- 

 ing tendrils the scourges. 



The efforts of those simple earnest souls to teach their wild 

 pupils have been commemorated for all time in the name Passion 

 Flower. This is the only contribution of the Western world to the 

 symbolical flowers of Christendom, and these star-like blossoms 

 have taken a worthy place beside the mystical Roses and Trefoils 

 of ecclesiastical decoration. 



The genus Passiflora is in the main tropical American. Our 

 weed of the cotton fields is typical of all the species; it is also the 

 most Northern, if we except a small flowering plant of Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



The Passion Flower of the greenhouses is Passiflora cmriila 

 with its hybrids and variants. This species is Brazilian and is 

 reported hardy as far North as Washington; it will grow readily 

 from seed and is a pleasant summer flower. 



3p8 



