Passiflora mollissima (Banana Passionfruit)

Passiflora mollissima, Passiflora tarminania, Banana Passionfruit, Taxo, Curuba

Botanical names: Passiflora mollissima, Passiflora tarminania

Common names: Banana Passionfruit, Taxo, Curuba

Origin: South America

The fruit looks somewhat like a straight, small banana with rounded ends. It was given this name in New Zealand, where passionfruit are also prevalent. In Hawaii, it is called banana poka. In its Latin American homeland, it is known as curuba, curuba de Castilla, or curuba sabanera blanca Vines with cylindrical stems densely coated with yellow hairs, and are vigorous climbers, growing up to seven metres. The leaves are a shiny green with clearly defined veins, the flower is large, pink and green petalled with a yellow and white centre. The fruit is yellow-orange when ripe and contains a sweet edible orange-colored pulp with black seeds.