Passiflora discophora

Passiflora discophora
Passiflora discophora cultivated in the Copenhagen Botanical Garden
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Passifloraceae
Genus:	Passiflora
Species:	P. discophora
Binomial name
Passiflora discophora P. Jørg. & Lawesson
It is native to Ecuador and Colombia [2]

Passiflora discophora is a species of plant In the family Passifloraceae, native to western Ecuador and Colombia. ^[2] It is restricted to closed wet coastal forest, and considered endangered due to the rapid ongoing deforestation of Ecuador's coast.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Passiflora discophora is a liana. ^[3] The branched tendrils form adhesive pads at the apex. The leaves are relatively small. ^[4]

Generative characteristics

The flowers are 4 cm wide. ^[5]

Adhesive pads

It is highly unusual among the genus Passiflora in regard of its climbing strategy. Unlike most other members of the genus, it forms branched tendrils with terminal adhesive pads. After surface contact of the tendrils, multiple adhesive pads are formed by papillate cell proliferation of the apex and a callus is formed, which perfectly reflects the microtopology of the substrate. In addition adhesive substances are secreted, which ensures persisting anchorage even after the tissue has died. The tendrils coil after adhesion, providing a firm support to the climbing plant. ^[6] The functional principles of these structures have been used as inspiration for engineering of similar materials. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Taxonomy

It was published by Peter Møller Jørgensen and Jonas Erik Lawesson in 1987. ^[10] It is placed in the subgenus Passiflora subg. Deidamioides. ^{[3] [11]}

Etymology

The specific epithet discophora refers to the adhesive pads of the tendrils. ^[11]

Ecology

The fruits are eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds. ^[3]

References

1. Jørgensen, P.; Pitman, N. (2004). "Passiflora discophora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T45543A11004078. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T45543A11004078.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Passiflora discophora P.Jørg. & Lawesson". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 20 November 2022.
3. MBG: Photo essays. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from http://www.mobot.org/mobot/photoessays/photoessay.asp?fldrloc=passiflora&imgorder=0004
4. Rhyner, S. (n.d.). P. discophora. Passiflora. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from http://www.passiflora.li/index2.htm?/meine_sammlung/discophora/discophora.htm
5. Passiflora discophora P.M.Jørg. & Lawesson. (n.d.). Passionsblumen. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.passionsblumen.info/discophora/
6. Bohn, H. F., Günther, F., Fink, S., & Speck, T. (2015). "A passionate free climber: structural development and functional morphology of the adhesive tendrils in Passiflora discophora." International Journal of Plant Sciences, 176(3), 294-305.
7. Bos, C. (2019). "Micromechanical characterization of heterogeneous materials, statistical analysis of nanoindentation data." Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
8. Würdemann, R. "Report 2013" Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum.
9. Speck, T., Speck, O., Masselter, T., Bohn, H., & Mülhaupt, R. (2013, June). "Plants as concept generators for biomimetic self-healing and self-adaptive materials, structures and surfaces." In ICSHM 2013: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Self-Healing Materials, Ghent, Belgium, June 16-20, 2013. Ghent University; Delft University of Technology.
10. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-ab). Passiflora discophora P. Jørg. & Lawesson. Tropicos. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://tropicos.org/name/24200498
11. Vecchia, M. (n.d.). Passiflora discophora Jørgensen & Lawesson (1987). Passiflora. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.passiflora.it/discophora-/207/eng/