Sunday, August 05, 2007

Banana Poka?

Banana Poka?
I'm not sure if this flowering vine is one species of Passiflora mollissima (a.k.a. P. tripartita), whose common name is banana poka, part of the passion fruit family (Passifloraceae). Its unwieldy vines can cause considerable damage to the ecosystem and its native habitat. On our recent hike, we came across these invasive killers placing a strangle hold on sandalwood and koa trees.

10 comments:

  1. I like your photo but wonder if it is a native plant or invasive foreigner? Also, did you take the vine off the trees it was strangling. I do that here. Take vines of poison ivy off of trees.

    Abraham Lincoln
    was up to 96F or 35C

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  2. that is a passion flower, I see them all over Portland because there's a cold-hardy version that people love growing around here.

    that is sad that it is so invasive. we struggle with invasive blackberry brambles, english ivy, and sweet pea vines. those three would choke out and take over everything here in portland if people didn't work hard every year to rip them out. i hope there are people on oahu trying to beat back the invasive plants, too.

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  3. Just beautiful flower! I have in my garden a fruit named Maracujá which flower looks like exactly your flower. I think this is Passiflora edulis or passion fruit. In Brazil passion fruit mousse is a common dessert. Passion fruit juice is also very common. See more on
    PASSIFLORA EDULIS.

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  4. Its invasive like the Kudzu in Georgia and Louisana. Its litterally choking everything. It isn't native but was a big mistake when introduced.

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  5. I remember there was a banana passion fruit in the garden in Tasmania. Perhaps it's the same thing - ie very like the normal passion fruit except banana shaped. Lovely photo.

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  6. this flower looks like it came out of a science fiction book =)
    lovely!

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  7. That there is Passiflora Laurifolia ("Water Lemon") - These are no worse than Lilikoi (P. Edulis var. flavicarpa) as invasive species of passion flowers go. Banana Poka has big pink flowers.

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