大果西番莲 da guo xi fan lian

Granadilla quadrangularis (Linnaeus) Medikus.

Herbaceous vines, woody at base, 10-15 m long, glabrous. Young stem quadrangular, narrowly winged. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 2-4 cm, margin entire, apex acute; petiole 3-5 cm, with 2 or 3 pairs of cupular glands; leaf blade broadly ovate to suborbicular, 7-13 × 5-15 cm, membranous, glabrous, lateral veins 8-12 pairs, tertiary veins somewhat prominent, base rounded to truncate, margin entire, apex acute. Inflorescence a reduced cyme, flower opposite tendril, tendril thick and strong; bracts leaflike, ovate, 3-5 cm, base cordate, apex acute. Pedicel 1-3 cm, triangular, articulate at middle. Flowers light red, 6-8(-10) cm in diam. Sepals green outside, red inside, ovate to ovate-oblong, 3-4 cm, sparsely pubescent. Petals light red, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-3.5 cm. Corona in 5 series, white or purple, filamentous; outer 2 series 3-5 cm; middle series ca. 2 mm, capitate; inner 2 series 1-2 mm, threadlike, 4-5 mm, membranous, margin lacerate; operculum membranous, similar to fifth outer corona in shape; disk cupular. Stamens free. Ovary ovoid; styles purple; stigma 3-lobed. Berry yellow or orange at maturity, ovoid, 20-25 cm, rind thick and fleshy. Seeds many, 7-9 mm, flat. Fl. Feb-Aug.

Cultivated. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [native to tropical America].