City - Round Rock State - TEXAS Country - United States
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Kodak DX4530 Photographed April 27, 2005 7:02 AM There are just so many Passions to shoot?. Gain Control: Low gain up White Balance: Auto Custom rendering: Normal Processing Digital Zoom ratio: None Metering Mode: Pattern Light Source: Morning Light Flash: Yes Focal Length in 35mm: 38.0 mm Focal Length: 8.0 mm Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec (5.00) Lens Aperture: F/2.8 Exposure Bias: F/0.5 (-2.00) ISO: 140 Exposure Mode: Auto Exposure Subject Distance Range: Macro
Peter - this looks almost like an exotic flying saucer in this composition. Love the colors and details. P.S. - This plant, or a cousin, also grows in Damascus, Syria and Beruit, Lebanon - or at least they did back in 1950-1953. Also, grows here in the Phoenix Valley area. Must be a cousin as the three areas I mentioned have hot and dry climates and the areas you cited are hot and humid. Interesting, huh? Anyway, congrats. Great shot. Jan
OK Larry You asked for it.... Passion Flower, whose genus name is passiflora, is a naturally grown medicinal herb, approved by the German Commission E in the treatment of insomnia and nervousness. It is also used as a sedative in nervous disorders (including gastrointestinal complaints of nervous origin), difficulties in sleeping, and anxiety or restlessness. Passion Flower reduces spasms and depresses the central nervous system.
Passion flower is also known as maypop. It is a woody vine with flowers which reminded early pilgrims of the passion or suffering of Christ. The plant produces small berry-like fruit called granadilla or water lemon. The aerial parts of the plant are gathered during fruiting season and then dried for future processing.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to an area from the southeast U.S. to Argentina and Brazil.
Legend has it that in 1620 a Jesuit Priest came across the plant we now know as passion flower. Enthralled with its beauty, that night he had a vision likening its floral parts to the elements of the Crucifixion or Passion of Christ. The five petals and five sepals became the ten apostles (omitting Peter and Judas). The three pistils became the nails of the cross; the purple corona (or filaments) was the crown of thorns, and the stemmed ovary was the Lord's goblet.
There are over 460 known species of Passiflora. A marvelous book, Passion Flowers (2nd Edition), by John Vanderplantk, MIT Press, Cambridge, USA, 1996 describes 150 different species and has over 120 colored photos documenting the various species.