The Giant Granadilla, Giant Tumbo or Badea (Spanish pronunciation: [baˈše.a]),
Passiflora quadrangularis, is the largest of the passionfruits,
plants of the genus Passiflora. It is a perennial native of Tropical
America, having smooth, cordate, ovate or acuminate leaves; petioles
bearing from 4 to 6 glands; an emetic and narcotic root; scented
flowers; and a large, oblong fruit, containing numerous seeds,
imbedded in a subacid edible pulp.
The badea is sometimes grown in greenhouses. The fruits of
several other species of Passiflora are eaten. P. laurifolia is the
water lemon and P. maliformis the sweet calabash of the West Indies.
The fruit juice of the badea is used as a beverage.
It is known as Barbadine in Trinidad. A tea is made from the
leaves which is used for high blood pressure and diabetes. A drink
and ice-cream are made from the fruit.
Giant green to yellow passion fruit reaching over one foot in
diameter. Pulp is not as flavorful as the common passion fruit, but
still tasty and often eaten or used in drinks.
Description: Fast growing vine which can grow over 50ft in a
single season. The stems are quadrangular in shape.
Hardiness: The giant granadilla is hardy to the mid 30's when
mature.
Growing Environment: Loves the warm humid tropics, but will not
stand flooding. Protect from freezing temperatures. Fruit forms best
after self-pollination.
Propagation: Almost always grown from seeds, but can be
propagated by cuttings. Bottom heating the seeds at 70-80F can
result in germination at 1-2 weeks, at lower temperatures seeds can
take up to 10 weeks to germinate.
Uses: Fruit is eaten fresh or used in drinks. The unripe, green
fruit is eaten as a vegetable.
Native Range: Native to Central and South America. Heavily
cultivated throughout the Americas. |
