Practical
Plants

Passiflora incarnata

Maypops

an evergreen member of the Passiflora genus in the family Passifloraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
6 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked in jellies, jams etc[6][14][9][17][18]183]. A sweet flavour[15], it is best when used as a jelly[21]. High in niacin[2]. Fairly large, the fruit is up to 5cm in diameter[7] though it contains relatively little edible pulp and a lot of seeds[K]. Leaves - raw or cooked. Said to be delicious as a cooked vegetable or when eaten in salads[4]. Flowers - cooked as a vegetable or made into syrup[4].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Maypops is a valuable sedative and tranquillising herb with a long history of use in North America[13]. It is frequently used in the treatment of insomnia, epilepsy, hysteria etc[13]. The leaves and stems are antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic, hypnotic, narcotic, sedative, vasodilator and are also used in the treatment of women's complaints[15][19][9][17][18][3][5][8][12]. The plant is harvested after some of the berries have matured and is then dried for later use[15]. It is used in the treatment of insomnia, nervous tension, irritability, neuralgia, irritable bowel syndrome, pre-menstrual tension and vaginal discharges[15][9][3][5][8]. An extract of the plant depresses the motor nerves of the spinal cord[10], it is also slightly sedative, slightly reduces blood pressure and increases respiratory rate[11]. The plant contains alkaloids and flavonoids that are an effective non-addictive sedative that does not cause drowsiness[12]. The plant is not recommended for use during pregnancy[12]. A poultice of the roots is applied to boils, cuts, earaches, inflammation etc[11]. The dried plant is exported from America to Europe for medicinal usage[8]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[15].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Vasodilator
Product or use
Women's complaints

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Virginia and Kentucky, south to Florida and Texas.
Habitat
Sandy thickets and open soils[16]. Fields, roadsides, fence rows and thickets[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. If sown in January and grown on fast it can flower and fruit in its first year[20]. The seed germinates in 1 - 12 months at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. It you are intending to grow the plants outdoors, it is probably best to keep them in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Mulch the roots well in late autumn to protect them from the cold. Cuttings of young shoots, 15cm with a heel, in spring[1]. Leaf bud cuttings in spring. Cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Takes 3 months. High percentage[14].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season, otherwise it is not fussy[1]. Another report says that it prefers a well-drained sandy slightly acid soil in full sun[12]. In a well-drained soil the roots are hardy to about -20°c, although top growth is killed back by frost[2][7]. The top growth is cut back almost to the ground each year by some people and the plant treated as a herbaceous perennial[20]. The roots should be mulched in winter to prevent them from freezing. Plants thrive in a short growing season[2]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of tendrils[11]. Resistant to pests and diseases[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. Cultivated for its edible fruit by the North American Indians[6][17]. Plants yield from 5 to 20 fruits annually in the wild[2]. Outdoor grown plants should have their roots restricted in order to encourage fruit production instead of excessive vegetative growth[1]. Hand pollinate using pollen from a flower that has been open for 12 hours to pollinate a newly opened flower before midday[20].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  14. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩

  20. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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