I wasn’t that thrilled with the performance of this vine on my arbor but now that it is finally blooming I’m rather taken with it. The name actually dates back to the 16th century and refers to the passion of Christ (the 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigma represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds). Other intesting tidbits: in Japan, they are known as clock-faced flowers, and recently have become a symbol for homosexual youths, in North America they are also called the Maypop, the water lemon, and the wild apricot (after its fruit). Native Americans in the Tennessee area called it ocoee, and the Ocoee river and valley are named after it. hmmmm. (info courtesy wikipedia)