SEA ANEMONE PASSION FLOWER - Biosecurity

SEA ANEMONE PASSION FLOWER
The threat: Sea anemone passion flower is a potential threat to New Zealand’s environment with its ability to smother and
shade the vegetation it grows on.
Why is sea anemone passion flower a pest?
Photo courtesy of Auckland Regional Council
Sea anemone passion flower (Passiflora actinia) readily climbs
trellises, garden fences and other plants. Once mature, it is
able to withstand frost. These invasive characteristics show
the plant’s potential to impact upon native, flora, fauna and
ecosystems.
Where is it found?
Sea anemone passion flower has been found growing at
Helensville, Auckland but has the potential to also grow in
Northland, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Coromandel and other
warmer areas of the country.
leaves
Photo courtesy of Myles Irvine, www.passionflow.co.uk
The sea anemone passion flower is a fast growing, evergreen
perennial vine native to Brazil. It grows in part-shade and
thrives in moist environments with bright but indirect sunlight.
What does sea anemone passion flower look like?
Flowers (4–8cm diameter) are attractive with bluish purple
and white bands giving a “speckled” appearance. These are
followed by edible yellow/orange round hairless fruits (3–4cm
diameter). The leaves are oval shaped (1.5–3.5cm long).
Flower
Could I mistake other plants as sea
anemone passion flower?
Flowers of the sea anemone passion flower are similar to both
those of the blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) and the
purple passionfruit (Passiflora edulis), both of which are found
in New Zealand.
Blue passion flower is well established in New Zealand and
purple passionfruit is commonly grown by plant enthusiasts for
its edible fruit.
Fruit
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.BIOSECURITY.GOVT.NZ
NEW ZEALAND. IT’S OUR
PLACE TO PROTECT.
September 2010
Blue passion flower
(P. caerulea)
Photo courtesy of Trevor James, AgResearch
• ripen from green to yellow/orange
• 3–5cm in diameter
• edible
• oval shaped
• unlobed
• 1.5 – 3.5cm long
• ripen from green to dark purple
• 3–5cm in diameter
• edible
Myles Irvine, www.passionflow.co.uk
Photo courtesy of Pat Breen, Oregon State University
Photo courtesy of Auckland Regional Council
LEAVES
• yellow/golden orange
• 3–4cm in diameter
• edible
• half purple (base) and half white (tip)
with zig-zag bends at the tip
• 5–7cm in diameter
Photo courtesy of Mike Harre, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
• three coloured bands; dark purple at
base, white in the middle and pale
blue/purple at tips
• 6–9cm in diameter
Myles Irvine, www.passionflow.co.uk
FRUIT
• bluish purple and white bands giving
“speckled” appearance
• 4–8 cm in diameter
Purple passionfruit (P. edulis)
Gabriele Palmer, www.turtlegabys-tropical-oasis.com
Sea anemone passion flower
(P. actinia)
Steve Morgan, www.devonsubtropicalgarden.co.uk
FLOWERS
FEATURE
COMPARISON WITH OTHER SPECIES
• very thin with five lobes
• each lobe is 3–8cm long
• three lobes and finely toothed
• 5–25cm long
What should I do if I find sea anemone
passion flower?
Please help us find the whereabouts of sea anemone passion flower. If you have seen it or suspect you have
seen it, please contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 80 99 66.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.BIOSECURITY.GOVT.NZ
NEW ZEALAND. IT’S OUR
PLACE TO PROTECT.
September 2010