Passiflora tetrandra explained

Passiflora tetrandra is a climbing vine found in New Zealand. The Māori name for the plant is kōhia.^[1] Other common names include New Zealand passionflower and New Zealand passionfruit.^[2] Of the c.500 species of passionflower, this is the sole representative from New Zealand and endemic to New Zealand.^{[3] [4]}

Kōhia is a forest vine, climbing up to 10m (33 feet). Leaves are alternate, broadly lanceolate, green, shiny, and untoothed. Flowers are small, white to yellow, in groups of 1–3 in the axils of the leaves. Flowers appear between October and December.

Plants are dioecious: fruit may not be produced without female-flowering plants being fertilised with pollen from separate male-flowering plants.^{[5] [6]} Fruits can be found from summer to autumn;^[7] are lemon-shaped, orange, up to 30mm (1.2 inches) long. The fruit can be eaten by people and is a traditional food for Māori: the gum from the stem was also chewed.^[8]

Propagation is from seed or cutting. Cultivation requirements are basic: vines need a support structure/tree and a cool root run in a reasonable soil.^[9]

^{[10] [11] [12]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: kohia. maoridictionary.co.nz. 25 July 2012.
2. http://nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1102 NZ Plant Conservation Network
3. Book: Lehnebach, Carlos A. . Native Plants of Aotearoa . Meudt . Heidi . 2022-10-01 . Te Papa Press . 978-1-9911509-3-6 . Te Papa Te Taiao Nature Series . 53 . English.
4. Cave, Y., and Paddison, V. (2005) The Gardener's Encyclopedia of New Zealand Native Plants. Randomhouse, Glenfield, New Zealand
5. Crowe, A. (1997) A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin Books, North Shore, New Zealand
6. Cave, Y., and Paddison, V. (2005) The Gardener's Encyclopedia of New Zealand Native Plants. Randomhouse, Glenfield, New Zealand
7. Crowe, A. (1997) A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin Books, North Shore, New Zealand
8. Crowe, A. (1997) A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin Books, North Shore, New Zealand
9. Cave, Y., and Paddison, V. (2005) The Gardener's Encyclopedia of New Zealand Native Plants. Randomhouse, Glenfield, New Zealand
10. [Étienne Raoul|Raoul, Étienne Fiacre Louis]
11. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/153125#page/334/mode/1up Candolle, Augustin Pyramus de, 1822. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 3: 323.
12. http://naturewatch.org.nz/taxa/kohia Naturewatch New Zealand