Passiflora cinnabarina

3 Red Passionflower at Tharwa, ACT

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Identification history

Passiflora cinnabarina

26 Jul 2022

Tapirlord

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

28 Jul 2022

uncommon record of this local population

User's notes

Amongst granite, on the ridge south of deadmans hill

9 comments

Tapirlord wrote:

26 Jul 2022

@MichaelMulvaney , Michael I'm not sure what to make of this, the plants here clearly don't like frost (or snowfall I Imagine), but seem to have managed to cling on amongst the granite boulders near the top of the ridge. There was a old communications tower maybe a kilometre to the east and a ex-managment road maybe 100m below this so I suppose it could have orginally come in through the works associated. Though suriving the frosts and the fires in the mountains of the ACT is no mean feat for this mostly coastal species. Are we still treating it as weedy?

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

27 Jul 2022

Very interesting Ciaran. There are a 1977, 1978 and 2004 record of red passion vine from Booroomba Rocks. @Varanus you made the 1977 collection (you must of been in nappies at the time and a very precocious baby) can you remember what your thoughts were at the time? @RogerF wednesday walkers made the 2004 record do you have any thoughts on whether this is native or not. It is at the eastern distribution limit, Booroomba rocks is a known refuge of a number of disjunct species and the plants on Black Mountain are spreading rapidly from plantings at the Botanic Gardens @RWPurdie.

RogerF wrote:

27 Jul 2022

Thanks for drawing my attention to this record as I did indeed find a red passion flower on an ANPS Wednesady Walk to Booroomba Rocks in a list for 2004. I'm not sure if this an updated composite list as we have it recorded frorn a WW visit in May 1998, but we have not seen it since at this site. Maybe birds drop a seed and the plants grow for a season and die over winter or grow as annuals..

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Thanks Roger, i wonder how fire sensitive it may be?

Varanus wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Hi Michael
I was 26 at the time! The specimen was collected on an native plant society trip to Booroomba Rocks and was collected as it was an unusual place to find this species. It is known from other high altitude sites, however, and often in rocky situations. Given it was tucked away amongst large granite boulders, it may be sheltered enough and perhaps receives some radiated warmth from the surrounding rocks? Plants located were a little sparser and "tattier" than found in coastal situations. Passiflora are generally hardy species, and even though affected by cold in locations like this, it is highly probable they regenerate from their rootstock as the weather warms. It was very interesting to see this new collection from Tennent, and looking at the photos it is a very similar situation as those found at Booroomba. It does not surprise me that it may spread from cultivated plants in suitable situations.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Thanks Geoff - so we can probably conclude that it is a local native to the Mt Tennent - Booroomba Rocks area

Varanus wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Not probably -definitely!

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Thanks for that certainty

Tapirlord wrote:

28 Jul 2022

Thanks Michael, Roger, and Geoff, all very interesting. "Tatty" is certainly fitting, most plants were shriveled with a number of yellow leaves, the one pictured was probably the best looking specimen. I was with @SWishart at the time, who told me that the area had experienced snowfall relativly recently.

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