MARACUYA A DELICIOUS VINE.

Maracuya is a perseverant woody climbing vine species of passion flower that has an exuberant flavor, gives energy and also provides medicinal benefits. It calms thirst on the hot days in the lowlands and also contains elements that brings tranquility to the thirsty individual.
Maracuya is an important fruit that has deeper roots in the Amazonian region of Peru.  The Amazonian people have used the plant for ages as an analgesic, to cure cough symptoms or as a heart tonic. From the fruit people make one of their very important drinks. It is hard to imagine entering a popular restaurant without having the choice of maracuya drink to refresh the customer.
Maracuya grows in warm places around the jungle and it is commercially produced especially in the North of Peru. It grows quickly, usually up to 10-15 meters, sometimes up to 80 meters. The leaves are simple and alternating, with flowers bisexual and expressive, growing out of leaf base.
Maracuya have a unique structure, which in most cases requires a large bee to effectively pollinate or because of the size and structure of their flowers the pollination is optimized by hummingbirds, bumble bees, capenter bees, wasps or bats.  The sword-billed hummingbird with its immensely elongated bill has co-evolved with certain passion flowers. Others types are self-pollinating.
The Maracuya variety that belongs to the Passiflora Pinnatistipula, commonly known as Poro Poro, is a climbing perennial that grows in Cajamarca Region of Peru at a very high altitude. A number of species are cultivated outside their natural range because of their beautiful flowers and delicious fruit. Many cool-growing Passi-Flora from the Andes Mountains have grown successfully for their beautiful flowers and fruit.
The medical utility of Passi-Flora has been scientifically studied for roughly 100 years, the analgesic effect has been known since 1897, and its calming effect since 1904. In the 1980s it was confirmed that the plant acts as an antidepressant and helps to lower blood pressure. In 2001's study for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, maracuya extract performed as well as oxazepam with non side effects. It was recommended to follow up with long-term studies to confirm the results.
In Europe the plant is being used for insomnia, nervous tension, spasm, neuralgia, alcoholism, headache and hyperactivity in children.
Maracuya juice easy asthma attacks, serious cough, bronchitis, protects the body from urinary and bladder infections, and works perfect as a diuretic.