Passaflora

**Tmai** · August 7th, 2006, 03:53 PM

So many different varieties. I wonder what the purpose of the fringey petals(?) is? Attracting insects maybe?
Some insects eat plants with toxins in them to become toxic to predators. The Monarch Butterfly is one. The butterflys lay their eggs only on milkweed plants from which the caterpillers gain their toxicity. Wonder what the caterpillers are that eat passion flowers?

**Molly Taco** · August 7th, 2006, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Tmai

So many different varieties. I wonder what the purpose of the fringey petals(?) is? Attracting insects maybe?
Some insects eat plants with toxins in them to become toxic to predators. The Monarch Butterfly is one. The butterflys lay their eggs only on milkweed plants from which the caterpillers gain their toxicity. Wonder what the caterpillers are that eat passion flowers?

Down here the Fritillary butterfly lays it's eggs on the passaflora vine.
Cin

**Piper** · August 7th, 2006, 04:46 PM

Gotta love the Viceroy butterfly as well... It munches on willows, aspen, poplar and plum cherry leaves, so has no toxicity. But it looks just like a Monarch, albeit somewhat smaller, so its mimicry protects it from predators that see the unusual Monarch coloration.

Julie

**Molly Taco** · August 7th, 2006, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Piper

Gotta love the Viceroy butterfly as well... It munches on willows, aspen, poplar and plum cherry leaves, so has no toxicity. But it looks just like a Monarch, albeit somewhat smaller, so its mimicry protects it from predators that see the unusual Monarch coloration.

Julie

I knew you were a papillon girl at heart. Butterflies are masters of mimicry.
Cin

**valb561** · August 8th, 2006, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Molly Taco

That is a great site Val I never realized that there were so many different colors. Does your vine produce a seed pod? Mine doesn't, it travels by runners, EVERYWHERE!!!
Cin

There are 3 green seed pods on it now & 1 red one. I'm hoping to get the seeds before the birds do

**valb561** · August 27th, 2006, 11:29 AM

Ok, I left the red pod on the vine too long..... only got 2 seeds (Ithink) out of it, pod was eaten away. Now I have a whole red pod & I guess I'll let it dry out on the counter? Should I open it & let it dry that way or leave it whole??
There are many green pods on the vine, so I'll have to keep an eye on those. I also found 3 more vines around the yard, birds are dropping seeds everywhere

**Molly Taco** · August 27th, 2006, 11:41 AM

I would brak the pod open so it gets more air and won't grow any green hairy stuff.
BTW I have something to send you, PM me your address again I deleted it by mistake. It will go out on Tues unless Ernesto is close and I am packing up.

**desertgal** · August 27th, 2006, 01:22 PM

OH, I am so jealous!! Can't grow those beauties in the desert. I am originally from God's Country (southeastern Ohio) and I have fond memories of the purple one, but have never seen the red one.