Spanish Christian missionaries used the locally common Passion Flower to explain the last days and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The five petals and five sepals represent the ten apostles except Peter who denied Jesus and Judas who betrayed him.
The radial filaments or corona represent the crown of thorns.
The three stigmas represent the three nails.
The five anthers represent the five wounds (four by nails and one by the lance)
The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ