Aristolochia littoralis
Aristolochia littoralis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Magnoliids |
Order: | Piperales |
Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
Genus: | Aristolochia |
Species: | A. littoralis
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Binomial name | |
Aristolochia littoralis | |
Synonyms | |
Aristolochia littoralis, the calico flower or مورپنکھ بیل or elegant Dutchman's pipe, is a species of evergreen vine belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae.
Etymology
The scientific name Aristolochia was developed from Ancient Greek aristos (άριστος) "best" + locheia (λοχεία), "childbirth" or "childbed", as in ancient times the plant was thought to be effective against infections caused by childbirth. The species Latin name littoralis means “coastal”.
Description
Aristolochia littoralis is a climbing vine that can reach about 3–4.5 metres (9.8–14.8 ft) in length. The slender stems are woody and the leaves are bright green, cordate, amplexicaul, 7–9 centimetres (2.8–3.5 in) long and 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) wide, forming a dense attractive foliage. Flowers are heart-shaped, greenish yellow with intricate purplish-brown markings. These unusual flowers are about 7–8 centimetres (2.8–3.1 in) long, grow solitary in the leaf axils and resemble Sherlock Holmes's pipe (hence the common name of "Dutchman's pipe"). The inner surface of the flared mouth is completely purplish-brown. The flowering period extends through all summer. These plants are pollinated by flies which are attracted by the unpleasant carrion-like odor produced by the flowers. The numerous winged seeds are borne in dry
Distribution
The vining plant is native to southern and western South America. It is found in:
- Brazil in Ceara, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Rondonia, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo states.
- Argentina in Corrientes, Entre Rios, Jujuy, Misiones, and Santa Fe Provinces.
- Paraguay in Amambay, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Paraguari, and San Pedro Departments.
- Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
It is an
Habitat
Aristolochia littoralis prefers acid-neutral soils (pH 5.5 – 7.0) and average moisture, in part sun to shade, at an elevation of about 0–1,150 metres (0–3,773 ft)
Cultivation
This
Gallery
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Flower and immature fruit of Aristolochia littoralis
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The dense foliage
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Leaves and immature fruit
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Thedehiscentcapsules
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The winged seeds
References
- ^ Mast. Gard. Chron., n.s. 24(610): 301, t. 64 1885
- ^ F. González Fl. Colombia 12: 90 1990
- ^ Hassl. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11: 177 1912
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector Aristolochia littoralis AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- Forest Starr, Kim Starr, and Lloyd Loope Aristolochia littoralis
- "Aristolochia elegans". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
- Floridata
External links
- Plants Archived 2015-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
- Plants of Hawaii
- Toptropicals
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Aristolochia elegans". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.