Passiflora foetida (common names: stinking passionflower, wild maracuja, bush passion fruit, wild water lemon,[1] stoneflower,[1] love-in-a-mist, or running pop[1]) is a species of passion flower that is native to the southwestern United States (southern Texas and Arizona), Mexico,[2] the Caribbean, Central America, and much of South America.
[4] The specific epithet, foetida, means "stinking" in Latin and refers to the strong aroma emitted by damaged foliage.
An experiment done with goats led to the discovery that high levels of cyanide in P. foetida cause poisoning after the ingestion of fresh leaves, mostly during the dry season.
[11] The fruits are roughly the size of a ping pong ball or kumquat and contain a bluish-white pulp that is mildly sweet and delicately flavored.
In the Philippines, the fruit of Passiflora foetida are known colloquially as marya-marya ('Little Mary'), balabalecua (in kapampangan), kurombot, utot-utot, and santo papa (due to its resemblance to the Pope's mitre).
Dry leaves are used in tea in Vietnamese folk medicine to relieve sleeping problems, as well as treatment for itching and coughs.