Passifloraceae

(passiflora caerulea, passiflora amethystina)

Over sixty species of passiflora exist. They are found in tropical rainforests, each bearing edible fruit (passionfruit, e.g.). They grow as vines and are harvested for their suggested herbal/medicinal properties; the leaves are either infused with or used as a base for various curative regimens for everything from general pain to depression to nervous disorders. From rainforest-database.com:

[The passion flower] bears striking, large white flowers with pink or purple centers. The flowers gave it the name passionflower (or flower of passion) because Spanish missionaries thought they represented some of the objects associated with the Crucification of Christ. The vine produces a delicious fruit which is about the size of a large lemon, wrinkling slightly when ripe. Passionflower, called maracuja in the Amazon, is indigenous to many tropical and semi-tropical areas - from South America to North America. There are over 200 species of passionflower vines; the most prevalent species in the Amazon arePassiflora edulis and P. incarnata.

(Tasty) Things To Do With Pumpkins

What I always do:

(baked pumpkin seeds)

What I'd like to try:

(pumpkin-blackbean soup)

(pumpkin muffins)

(pumpkin-cranberry granola)

All vegan, and all from scratch, of course. Any favorite recipes?

Pyrus Coronaria

"Apple blossoms are considered a 'perfect' flower because the anthers that promote pollination and the pistons that develop into apples are both located within the same blossom." (via)

I've been thinking of apples because it's mid-September and the weather's been near pristine and that makes me think of Hallowe'en-time during undergrad, when Alex and I would house-sit for one of our professors -- and his wife would always have left us a steaming pot of homemade apple cider with lemon wedges and whole cinnamon sticks.

húng quế

The owner of the café some blocks down from my apartment grows tomatoes, peppers, and other edibles just outside his front window; and the other day, there for my first visit in a little while, he brought me a clear plastic cup with a rather trampled-looking sprig of basil in an inch of water. "Found this on the ground," he said. "Just let it perch in the water for a few days so it grows roots. Then, you can plant it."

I've never grown any basil of my own, and am only marginally sure that this wilting halfling is sweet basil - but my favorite is Thai sweet basil, also known as Asian sweet basil. Beyond its lovely, almost lemony taste, it gives rise to coquettish purple-white flowers.