Purple Passionflower, Maypop

Description:

A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens.

Habitat:

The Maypop occurs in thickets, disturbed areas, near riverbanks, and near unmowed pastures, roadsides, and railroads. It thrives in areas with lots of available sunlight. It is not found in shady areas beneath a forest canopy.

Notes:

One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is a common wildflower in the southern United States. The Cherokee in the Tennessee area called it ocoee; the Ocoee River and valley are named after this plant, which is the Tennessee State Wildflower.