Maypop

Maypop

Maypop or passion vine fruit

The maypops or fruits of the maypop vine are a bit larger than a ping pong ball with a green skin. I've never personally tasted a passion vine fruit but folks in Louisiana (and other places) eat the fruit.

I understand that if they are left on the vine until they ripen you should pick them just before they fall off the vine.

However, others talk about stepping on these "balls" when mature often causes a loud 'popping' sound, thus the name of this plant. The fruit contains many seeds. While the seeds can produce new plants however, sprouts from the perennial rootstocks are much more common.

Fruit of the maypop or passion vine

The fruits of this species of passion flower are called maypops and are about the size of small egg. Some people eat the fruit.

Maypop fruit

Larval plant for Zebra longwing, Julia and gulf fritillary butterflies. Every leaf on the maypop in my yard is consumed by gulf fritillary butterfly larvae every fall. When the leaves are gone the caterpillars will even eat the vine itself.

Maypop flower

Maypop is common throughout the southeastern United States. It can be seen growing on the edges of fields, along side ditches and other sunny places.

Maypop flower

Maypop dies back to the ground in winter but recovers in spring.

Maypop flower

The gulf fritillary butterfly is especially fond of the maypop vine. Mature gulf fritallarie butterflys deposit pinhead sized orange eggs on the leaves that hatch into ravenous caterpillars that will put the bite on the vine in short order.

I let my maypop vines climb sasafras trees for support. Sasafras leaves are a favorite food source for one of the swallowtail butterflys.

By encouraging my maypop to climb on my sasafras trees I am combining two host plants for butterfly larvae.

PLANTS INDEX

Miscellaneous Subjects** EXCITING DRIVES

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are

We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures:

Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page

Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects

We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us

Until next time remember how good life is.