Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Passiflora racemosa - Red Passion Flower
Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) growing in a modern garden
Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) from the Private Collection, French Block Printed Disocactus and Tropical Motifs Chintz Fabric Fragment, no date
Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 45, plate 2001, 1818
Common Names: Red Passion Flower, Princess Charlotte’s Passion-Flower
 
Description: Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) is a member of the Passion Flower Family (Passifloraceae). The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, vol. 4 recorded twenty-eight species of Passion Flower native to the West Indies, Jamaica, Bahamas, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Brazil, Martinique, Curassao, Cayenne, New Calidonia & Norfolk Island, Virginia, and America but did not list Passiflora racemosa.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 45, plate 2001, published in 1818 lists it as native to Brazil and first cultivated in Britain before 1818.  This identification is provisionally identified as Passiflora racemosa or a closely related species.

Printed cottons with the Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) motif illustrated above:  
  • Private Collection, French Block Printed Disocactus and Tropical Motifs Chintz Fabric Fragment, no date
                                    Additional Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) Motifs
Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) from the Charleston Museum, Gracy Drummond Quilt, dated 1844 courtesy of the Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina
Quilts with this Passiflora racemosa (Red Passion Flower) motif illustrated above:  
  • Charleston Museum, Gracy Drummond Quilt, Object Number 2011.26.1, dated 1844





   ©  Updated 5/3/2020     Author: Terry Terrell