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Passiflora: Some species are poisonous
If you look around in gardener and exotic forums, then the answers found with regard to the toxicity of the passion flower are very contradictory. In fact, some of the more than 500 Passiflora species are mildly poisonous to toxic due to their high hydrocyanic acid content, while others develop edible and very tasty fruits. Well-known examples are the passion fruit and the grenadilla.
Poisonous species of Passiflora
Overall, the botanist distinguishes four subspecies of passionflower, of which especially the subgenus Decaloba with about 220 representatives as inedible to toxic. Other Passiflora species are considered toxic due to the high content of hydrocyanic acid in leaves and shoots. However, the expected signs of intoxication are not dramatic; you may experience nausea until vomiting, dizziness, headaches and cramps. Although the consumption of toxic parts of plants is not fatal, at least for adult humans, but certainly for small animals such as rabbits and other rodents and cats.
Tips & Tricks
Above all, Passiflora incarnata is used in naturopathy and in homeopathy, although it is not recommended to self-experiments.