Life with Passion

[e-rancher]

Just wanted to share a few photos from yesterday. These are from a volunteer vine although once I complete my 1001 projects, I may trellis some.

[e-rancher]

Some others photos from previous years. The first one has both the caterpillar (top left) and the butterfly. The second caterpillar is less ominous looking. I said less.

[DavidW]

Great pictures, thanks!

[Wisner]

Nice pictures. I've never seen a caterpillar like that last one.

[e-rancher]

Both of these caterpillars only feed on passion vines (maypop).

[Wisner]

Both of these caterpillars only feed on passion vines (maypop).

Are you planning to eat the maypops?

[e-rancher]

You can eat the flowers, the fruit and the leaves, so I am told. I know someone who wants to make tea with the fruit so I’ll let them go first.

[e-rancher]

The fruit looks a bit different inside. It seems like a bunch of little pouches with some liquid and a seed in each pouch.

[DrDraconian]

Are you sure that was ripe? Generally the fruit is ripe when the outer shell gets puckered and wrinkly, and usually it is best to wait until the fruit falls off the vine on its own and then pick them up off the ground. The flesh around the seeds should have some color to it and have a jelly-like pulp consistency.

[goodfriendmike]

DrDraconian the fruit is ripe. I know of 2 wild types in louisisana one stays green the other turns yellowish and neither wrinkle.

[Chonas]

The fruit pictured is not ripe, the seed casings become translucent and start moving towards yellow as it becomes more ripe. The pod itself becomes thinner the riper it becomes, and it will wrinkle at full ripeness if it isn't ruptured by pests. Can remain green, or start turning yellow. In N AL they generally don't start ripening until the end of August (around pawpaw season).

[e-rancher]

As far as the fruit being ripe, I have no idea if it was or not so I appreciate the comments. It was getting wrinkles on the outside and from experience, once it gets wrinkles it’s gone the next day. I believe it can get fully ripened on a trellis but that will be for another day. Many a critter finds free dining at the e-ranch.

[Bellefleurs]

Beautiful!!
How special that the vine was a volunteer.🦋

[FloraFig]

e-rancher, I have the same variety.
it got decimated by these butterflies off spring. But the vine is so invasive , it's popping up all over the place.

[e-rancher]

It is considered a weed but the butterflies are beautiful. Oh, and ignore the pm.

[FloraFig]

No worries.
I know it looks different inside when it's ripe, it grows all over the place in the woods here.

I decided I rather have the butterflies. I have another passion vine variety, that one I will protect from the caterpillars.

[finvarawoods]

I have these passion vines growing up here and there by themselves. I couldn't figure how to eat the fruit as it always just seemed hollow, so it's good to learn about what it looks like when it actually ripens. I've let it grow wherever it comes up because I like the butterflies and caterpillars. Thanks!