In 1608 , Spanish Jesuits officially present Pope Paul V with a lottery and dried specimens of the passion flower discovered in Peru in 1569 . The sixteenth century scholar Giacomo Bosio trace the passion flower as " La Flor de las cinco Llagas , " intend the blossom with the five wounds , a direct citation to teachings of the Catholic Church . It is possible that the passion flower was seen as a emblematic teaching tool in the quest to change over the native Indians of Peru to Christianity .

Symbolism

The Anglicized name , " passion " flower refers to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ . The name and the flower itself are satiate with symbolism . The five flower petal and the five sepals are aver to represent the 10 close apostles ( leave out Peter and Judas ) . The tips of the leaves suggest the decimal point of the centurion ’s spear . The central flower pillar denotes the tower of the scourging . The flower ’s tendrils resemble the whip used in the whipping . The electric glow filament are compared to Christ ’s crown of thorns . The three brand are called the nails , and the five anthers reflect the five consecrated wound , while the red stains recall the rakehell of Christ .

Passiflora

The renowned Swedish botanist Linnaeus classify the passion peak as " Passiflora " in 1745 . It is forecast that there are now over 500 species worldwide . It was initially call " granadilla " for its fragrant yield . The berry - like fruits associated with the passion flower were cultivated as crops by the Aztecs , Incas and other South American native Indians . Based on literary score and drawings between 1608 and 1610 , it is thought that the passion flower first discovered in Peru may have been the species Passiflora caerulea , or blue Passion of Christ flower .

Names

During the 18th 100 , the passion flower was lend to Europe from South America , the start of a horticultural journeying that would take it all over the world . By the 1820s , passion flower loan-blend were popular in Britain . The Spaniards who had first discovered the mania blossom in South America called it " Espina de Cristo " ( Christ ’s thorns ) . The German name , Muttergottes - Schuzchen , intend " mother of God ’s star . " In North America , they are also known as maypops , piss lemons and wild apricots . In Tennessee , aboriginal Americans named them " ocoee , " as in the river and vale of the same name .

Medicinal Benefits

The species , Passiflora incarnata , is used medicinally as a non - addictive sedative drug , to soothe anxiety and insomnia , among other unquiet disorders . It is said to grow an antispasmodic effect and to boost digestion . The leaf of the passion blossom , in both fresh and dry forms , bring out a restful drink of tea .

Ornamentation

The passion bloom remains a tell apart symbol of Christ ’s passion . It is incorporated into the ornament of church service such as St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Gillingham , Dorset , England ( see Resources ) . The Victorian stained glass windowpane theme feature the rage heyday , as do church service ritual instrument admit the altar frontal and the lectern fall .

References

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