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Sweet calabash
Passiflora maliformis fruits
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. maliformis
Binomial name
Passiflora maliformis L.

Passiflora maliformis, the sweet calabash, conch apple, wild purple passionfruit, or sweet cup, is a smallish (5 cm or 2 in) passionfruit with purple, yellow or green skin and a greyed-yellow to orange pulp that is aromatically scented and flavoured. It is a fast-growing vine, growing best in somewhat cooler-than-tropical climates. The rind is particularly hard and tougher than most passionfruits. It is usually eaten fresh or used to flavour drinks. It is a native to the Caribbean, Central America and Northern South America.

Description

Passiflora maliformis is a fast-growing evergreen shrub and vine. The slender, woody stems can reach lengths of 3–10 metres (10–33 ft) and are equipped with tendrils by means of which the plant climbs other plants or structures for support. The green or orange-green fruit is up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter. The skin of this fruit can be hard so a hammer is sometimes needed to open it for consumption.

Cultivation

It is usually grown from seeds but may also be propagated by stem-cuttings and layering. Grafting onto other Passiflora rootstock can improve hardiness. Passiflora maliformis grows in the warm, wet tropics the plants require a temperature no lower than around 16 °C (61 °F) when they are flowering in order to ensure fruit set. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility. Seedlings can commence fruiting when only 1–2 years old. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Nutrition

Passiflora maliformis arils contain 85.44% water, 7.17% net carbohydrates, 3.63% fibre, 2.2% protein, and 0.45% fat (see table). A 100-gram (3.5 oz) amount provides 42 kilocalories (180 kJ) and is an excellent source of magnesium and phosphorus as well as a significant source of other minerals (see table). The fruit also contains various organic acids and phenolic compounds which are responsible for the aroma and flavour. It is commonly eaten raw or made into a drink, and is said to have a flavor similar to grape.

References

1. United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
2. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). "Chapter 4: Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy". In Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). pp. 120–121. doi:10.17226/25353. ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
3. "Sweet Calabash - Passiflora maliformis". Trade Winds Fruit. 2013. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
4. "Sweet Calabash - Passiflora maliformis - Seeds". www.tradewindsfruit.com. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
5. Ken Fern (2019-06-13). "Tropical Plants Database". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
6. "Passiflora Maliformis (Sweet Calabash) Seeds". Hierbas del Perú. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
7. "Passiflora maliformis - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
8. Ramaiya, S.D.; Bujang, J.B.; Zakaria, M.H.; Saupi, N. (2018-12-01). "Nutritional, mineral and organic acid composition of passion fruit (Passiflora species)" (PDF). Food Research. 3 (3): 231–240. doi:10.26656/fr.2017.3(3).233. Retrieved 2019-09-17.

• Passiflora
• Plants described in 1753
• Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus