About Passiflora nitida Kunth
Passiflora nitida Kunth, commonly known as the bell apple, is a tasty but relatively little-known passion fruit. It is similar to Passiflora laurifolia, bearing orange-yellow fruits that contain sweet, succulent pulp. It is a fast-growing tropical vine. Its flowers are blue and red, and bear resemblance to flowers of both P. laurifolia and P. quadrangularis. Its fruits grow to a maximum size of 4 centimetres (1.6 inches). The exact cold hardiness of the species is unknown, but as a tropical plant, it must be protected from prolonged temperatures below 50–55 °F (10–13 °C), and it is not frost hardy. Passiflora nitida is a close relative of most other Passiflora species, including P. actinia, P. flavicarpa, and P. loefgrenii, among others. This species is propagated by seeds. Its fruits are eaten fresh, and are reported to have quite a good flavor. The bell apple is native to the Amazon jungle region. Passiflora nitida also has one of the widest geographic distributions among passion flowers, growing in tropical lowlands from Costa Rica in the north and French Guiana in the northeast, across large parts of Brazil. It is also used as an ingredient in a drink called Purple Passion.
