Giant Granadilla

Giant Granadilla, strong, rapidly growing vine, member of the passionflower family, native to tropical America. The giant granadilla is grown for its edible fruit, as well as for its ornamental value. The square stems bear rounded leaves and big fragrant flowers that can reach 8 cm (3 in) in width. The flowers are white outside, reddish inside, and have a crown of white and purple filaments. The oblong greenish yellow fruit, which is also called granadilla, grows to about 20 cm (about 8 in) in length and ripens in the summer. The fruit has a brittle rind, and many flat, small seeds are contained within the gelatinous, slightly acid pulp. The green fruit is boiled and served as a vegetable. The pulp of ripe fruit is eaten directly or used in cold drinks. 

Scientific classification: The giant granadilla is a member of the family Passifloraceae. It is classified as Passiflora quadrangularis.

Passionflower

The passionflower, a close relative of the violets, is a woody-stemmed climbing plant that grows to a height of 10 m (30 ft). Passionflowers are cultivated for their unique flowers and edible fruits.

Passionflower, common name for a flowering plant family, and especially for members of its principal genus. The flowers are usually perfect, generally having a five-parted calyx and five-parted corolla. All species have a more or less conspicuous crown of filaments springing from the throat of the tube formed by the base of the calyx and corolla. The family contains about 530 species, most of which are climbing plants, such as the passion vine of the southern United States, which sometimes reaches a height of 9 m (30 ft). The bell apple, or water lemon, of the West Indies is a species of passionflower with an edible fruit. The giant granadilla is a closely related plant native to Jamaica and South America. The pulp, or aril, surrounding each seed of the giant granadilla plant is used in flavoring drinks and ices.

Scientific classification: Passionflowers make up the family Passifloraceae. The principal genus is Passiflora. The passion vine is classified as Passiflora incarnata, the bell apple, or water lemon, as Passiflora laurifolia, and the giant granadilla as Passiflora quadrangularis.

Indigo Plant

Indigo Plant, common name for any of a genus of shrubs or perennial herbs (see Legume). The genus has about 700 species, most native to tropical regions. Indigo plants have compound leaves and bear purple, pink, or white flowers. Their fruit consists of pods. Various Asian species contain the glycoside indican, which can be oxidized to produce the dyestuff indigo. Of a long-lasting, deep-blue color, indigo was an important Indian, Egyptian, and Roman dye during antiquity. It was first introduced into Europe during the 16th century. Most indigo dye today is synthetically manufactured.

Scientific classification: Indigo plants constitute the genus Indigofera, of the family Papilionoideae.

Foxglove Plant

Foxglove Plant

The common foxglove is grown for decorative and medicinal purposes. The flowers contain glycosides (chemicals that affect heartbeat and pulse), which can be extracted from the leaves and used to regulate and strengthen a person’s heartbeat. However, if plant materials containing glycosides are directly consumed by humans, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and heartbeat and pulse abnormalities can result. If consumed in large enough quantities, glycosides can cause convulsions and death.

Aconite

Aconite, common name for certain perennial herbs and for a preparation derived from them that was formerly used in medicine. More than 100 species belong to the aconite genus and are native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several species, including the helmet flower, a well-known European species, are cultivated as garden plants in the United States. The common aconites have fibrous or tuberous roots, mostly erect stems, and palmately divided or cleft leaves. The flowers in most species are blue or purple, although some species have yellow or white flowers. The outer, showy parts of the bilaterally symmetrical flower are five in number, and the uppermost is shaped like a large, downward-opening hood. Because of this hood, which immediately distinguishes aconite from larkspur, aconites are commonly called monkshood. They are also known as wolfsbane.

Aconites contain highly active alkaloids, especially aconitine, and are poisonous to both humans and animals. The helmet flower has long been considered one of the most dangerous plants of Europe. When eaten in small to moderate amounts, roots produce symptoms of restlessness, salivation, nausea, a weakened and irregular heartbeat, chest pain, prostration, and frequently death within hours.

Scientific classification: Aconites belong to the family Ranunculaceae. The helmet flower is classified as Aconitum napellus.

Cultivated as garden plants in the United States, helmet flowers bloom a brilliant indigo blue in late summer. Long considered dangerous in Europe, helmet flowers are poisonous to humans and if eaten may cause nausea, irregular heartbeat, or death.

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