Passion Fruit

*Passiflora edulis*

How to know it

A vigorous climbing vine with three lobed leaves and curling tendrils. The flower is elaborate, with a fringed crown of filaments. The fruit is round, purple or yellow, wrinkling as it ripens.

What it does

Eaten fresh and used in drinks and desserts. The vine climbs by tendrils, which are worth showing children because the coiling movement is visible over days.

Safety

Ripe fruit is safe. Unripe fruit is not eaten. Some ornamental passionflower species are not edible, so know which one you have.

Two things to do with children

Cut one open and count the seeds. The number is high enough to require a strategy, which is where the maths starts.

Watch a tendril over three days. It finds a support, wraps, then coils like a spring. Almost nobody has ever watched this happen and it is remarkable.