A little passion flower

There are two native passion flowers in Missouri. Both are plants that vine, and both have three-lobed leaves. The one most people know is the larger and more colorful purple passion flower. The one shown here has yellow or sometimes light pale green-white flowers that are about one inch across. It is called the yellow passion flower.

I found this yellow passion flower growing close to a wooded area at the edge of thick brush. The vine was more than 15 feet long. It had several flowers and some round green fruits that were smaller than marbles. Beside the flower in this picture is another one about to bloom, with three small round green stigmas already emerging.