Guest From Tropics

In the mornings, flowers of Passiflora caerulea (bluecrown passionflower), an exotic guest from tropical America, bloom in the Florarium. In nature, the plant can be found in subtropics as well: it is cultivated and successfully winters on the southern coast of the Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.


 
The beautiful flowers of passiflora are difficult to confuse with any other. They resemble something unearthly and extraordinary.  In 1610, Italian historian and religious leader Giacomo Bosio even described the flower of passiflora as a visual embodiment of the Passion of Christ. Hence the name of the plant passiflora, from the Latin “passio” — suffering and “flos” — flower. The unusual flower of passiflora resembles the star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and this is why the plant is called the Cavalry Star.


 
The liana is not only beautiful, but cunning as well: there are drops of liquid on its petioles and leaves. These drops attract ants that fight the caterpillars eating the plant leaves.


 
We invite you to visit the Florarium and enjoy the amazing blossoming of passiflora! Come in the morning, as these flowers bloom in the morning and early in the day, and close in the evening.