The plants of genus Passiflora are shrubs and herbs, mostly climbers with auxillary tendrils. Stem herbaceous or woody, generally climbing, very rarely arborescent. Leaves alternate, sometimes simple, entire, lobed or palmate, sometimes compound, imparipinnate; stipules germinate at the base of petioles, rarely absent; tendril axillary, arising from sterile pedicels. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular. The large receptacle is often hollowed out like a cup or basin, and bears numerous filamentous or annular appendages between the corolla and stamens, which may be brightly colored and form a conspicuous corona of great diversity.