Passiflora, the passion-flower. Generally climbing herbs or shrubs. Fruit succulent, seeds many. Found chiefly in tropical America. The three stigmas seemed to the devout Roman Catholics of South America to represent nails; one transfixing each hand, and one the feet of the crucified Saviour; the five anthers, His five wounds;
the rays of the corona, His crown of thorns, or the halo of glory around His head; the digitate leaves, the hands of those who scourged Him, the tendrils, the scourge itself; while, finally, the 10 parts of the perianth were the 10 apostles -- that is, the 12 wanting Judas who betrayed, and Peter who denied, his Lord.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia,
1912.