We have two kinds of granadilla (passionfruit) species here. One is an orange/yellow thick skin variety which grows wild in our tropical climates and the other is cultivated for everyday use, is purple and has a thinner skin.
It is used in many ways, as an addition to cakes and icing, a flavoring in ice cream, yoghurt and soft drinks or fresh over fruit salad.
If conditions are right, flowering may occur throughout the year. Individual flowers bloom for just 12-24 hours before closing. They will self-pollinate and are followed by green fruit, turning purple when ripe. Fruits usually ripen within 80 days of flowering. They grow on vines which love full sun except in climates where the temperature frequently surpasses 100F, then should be given shade. Plants are short-lived, usually maintaining good productivity for 4-6 years. Harvest fruits when they fall from the plant and are best eaten when wrinkles appear on the surface. When propagated from seed or cuttings, they will flower within their first year.
The information below is from
http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/herbal-supplements/passion-flower.phpMedicinal uses and health benefits of the passion flower
Passion flower has a long history of use among Native Americans. Today, passion flower is mainly used in the United States and Europe to relieve anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. It is also recommended for the relief of nausea caused by nervousness or anxiety. It works by slowing the pulse, decreasing arterial tension, and quieting respiration and pulmonary blood pressure. Passion flower is anxiolytic and analgesic. It decreases motor activity that can contribute to stress-related myospasms. Passionflower has been used traditionally for menstrual pain, diarrhoea and dysentery. An extract containing passionflower and hawthorn has been studied in people with congestive heart failure for the treatment of shortness of breath and difficulty exercising. When combined with hawthorn berries, passionflower is effective in reducing stress-related digestive spasms such as gastritis and colitis. Fruit juice as an eyewash for sore eyes. A tincture or infusion from dried leaves is an insomnia remedy. Homeopathic practitioners prescribe it for asthma and whooping cough. Applied externally, it has been used for hemorrhoids. Passionflower may also relieve anxiety in people who are recovering from heroin addiction.
Dosage and administration
Passion flower preparations are made from fresh or dried flowers and other above-ground parts of the plant. Recommended dosages of passion flower generally range from 4-8 g of dried herb per day. To make tea, pour 150 ml (about two-thirds of a cup) of hot water over 1 teaspoonful of passion flower, steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Two or three cups of tea a day. Alternatively, 5-10 ml (1:8) of passion flower tincture can be taken three to four times per day.
Side effects, precautionsIn general, passionflower is considered to be safe and nontoxic. Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat. Pregnant women should not take passion flower, because passionflower contains substances that can stimulate contractions of the uterus. Passion flower may increase the effects of drugs and herbals that promote sleepiness. It may also enhance the blood-thinning effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents.
Granadilla Fridge Tart
Ingredients
1 tin Carnation Milk (unsweetened)
1 pack Lemon Jelly
½ cup Icing Sugar
1 tin (110g) Granadilla Pulp
1 pack Nice or Tennis Biscuits
Method
Freeze tin of Carnation Milk.Dissolve jelly in 1 cup boiling water.Line pie dish with biscuits.When jelly begins to set, beat slightly defrosted milk with icing sugar very stiffly.Add granadilla and nearly set jelly, and beat well.Put 1/2 mixture on base, add another layer biscuits, then the rest of the mixture.Set in fridge overnight.
I was there just after the rain and this means the ticks are out in full force, especially this little red ones. Needless to say, I did not do much walking that day.
He was clinging for dear life onto this grass stalk.
It seems it was the time when all the dragonflies were eager to have their photograhs taken too.
It was enjoying a meal of this orange blossom.
The ants have hairs on their butts which were golden in color.
A prickly pear shooting out a new flower.
Wild flower with its own fly to keep it company.
In trying to get a good shot of this medium size spider, I had to keep on doing a backward leopard crawl as it came nearer and nearer.
Poor Fruit Chafer!! I wonder if it was stuck on this blade of grass as it seemed to be clinging onto it for dear life and not moving and inch.
The tiny spider seemed quite at home in this ants nest .... or was it the other way around? :)
This pretty looking stalk is from the Parafin bush.....
...heaven alone knows what it was doing in the garden as it is a weed and one banned from our gardens.
Aren't these lovely? Such a lot of colors to please the eye.
I do know know what this shrub is called but it was full of these lovely buds.
Mainly aloes but this shows you some of the variety of plants they use in the gardens and come in all shapes and colors.
Dotted along the pathways are nice benches to sit on and enjoy the quiet harmony of the place or maybe eat some sandwiches. I do prefer sitting on the lawn though. Benches are for old people. LOL!!
A Cranefly sitting on a leaf next to a pond.
A pretty bush with these lovely flowers. The centre is in such contrast to the white petals.
This cub is about 16-18 months old and almost ready to start taking its place in the pride.
This male has seen many, many battles, probably with younger males trying to take over his females.
His brother looks almost as bad. Both these males will mate with the dominant female but will not allow outsiders the chance.
Being born in the Park, they are very comfortable with vehicles around them. When the weather starts to turn cooler, they will come and lay on the tarmac during the late afternoon and spend the night there for its warmth.
Every species of wild cat has different markings behind their ears.......
and the tip of their tails by which they can be identified.
If conditions are right, flowering may occur throughout the year. Individual flowers bloom for just 12-24 hours before closing. They will self-pollinate and are followed by green fruit, turning purple when ripe. Fruits usually ripen within 80 days of flowering. They grow on vines which love full sun except in climates where the temperature frequently surpasses 100F, then should be given shade. Plants are short-lived, usually maintaining good productivity for 4-6 years. Harvest fruits when they fall from the plant and are best eaten when wrinkles appear on the surface. When propagated from seed or cuttings, they will flower within their first year.
The information below is from http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/herbal-supplements/passion-flower.php
Dosage and administration
Side effects, precautions
Granadilla Fridge Tart
....there he is, having an afternoon nap.
For more information on them, please follow this link: Leopard
He was so far away, I am surprised that I managed to get any pictures to show you.
Gaelyn and I were happy to see this one on the first day in Kruger National Park. What luck!!
This one was covered by some kind of mite and I did not realize it until I hade these pictures on the screen and naturally, I had been handling it.
With all these things about, it is a wonder that I have not pick up some rare and exotic disease by now, keeled over and died.
I guess it is true what they say "Only the good die young" so must be pretty evil. :)
As soon as I let him go, he made a dive into the lawn and probably thought he was invisible.
The True Leaf Katydid (Tettigoniidae zabalius aridus) is so well hidden I almost walked past him.
They are very large, this specimen being about 4 inches (60mm) in body length.
They feed on leaves of trees and shrubs.
In defense, they kick with their spined hind legs.
