Passion Flower

an interesting genus of herbs and trees, chiefly South American, bearing curious flowers which the early Spanish and Italian travelers fancied were emblematical of Christ's suffering or "passion." We quote Bailey:

The ten colored parts of the floral envelope were thought to represent the ten apostles present at the crucifixion, Peter and Judas being absent. Inside the corolla is a showy crown or corona of colored filaments or fringes, taken to represent the crown of thorns, or by some thought to be emblematic of the halo. The stamens are five, to some suggestive of the five wounds, by others thought to be emblematic of the hammers which were used to drive the three nails, the latter being represented by the three styles with capitate stigmas. The long axillary coiling tendrils represented the cords or the scourges. The digitate leaves suggested the hands of the persecutors.