| Smearwort | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Genus: | Aristolochia |
| Species: | A. rotunda |
| Binomial name | |
| Aristolochia rotunda | |
Aristolochia rotunda, commonly known as smearwort or round-leaved birthwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Southern Europe.
The genus name Aristolochia derives from the Greek words αριστος (aristos) meaning "the best" and 'lochéia' meaning ' childbirth', for the old use in promoting uterine contractions. The Latin name of the species rotunda refers to the rounded shape of the leaves.
The root reaches 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) in length and sometimes seems out of proportion to the slenderness of the plant. The unbranched stem has alternate, large, smooth-edged, heart-shaped and stalkless leaves that clasp the stem with enlarged, basal lobes. The solitary flowers have an unpleasant odor and they are tubular, about 2.5–5 centimetres (0.98–1.97 in) long, yellowish-green with a prominent, dark-brown or dark purple flap, both arising from the axils of the leaves. The flowering period extends from April through June.
The flowers of Aristolochia rotunda are hermaphrodite are pollinated by midges and other small insects (entomophily), attracted by the smell and by purple-brown color of the flowers. The small hairs inside the cup prevent the flies from coming out and flying away. After the pollination these hairs sag and allow them to escape.
This species is the only host plant of the caterpillars of a beautiful uncommon butterfly ( Zerynthia polyxena ). Eating the leaves of the plant the larvae this insect ingest aristolochic acid that make them poisonous to birds.
This plant is common in Mediterranean countries. It is rarely naturalized in the British Isles.
These plants occur along the banks of canals, edges of ditches and fields, sides of roads, meadows, slopes and forests. They prefer chalky soils and moist, shady areas, at an altitude of 0–800 metres (0–2,625 ft) above sea level.
A. rotunda contains aristolochic acids which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic. [1]
Gymnadenia conopsea, commonly known as the fragrant orchid or chalk fragrant orchid, is a herbaceous plant of the family Orchidaceae native to northern Europe.
The Aristolochiaceae are a family, the birthwort family, of flowering plants with seven genera and about 400 known species belonging to the order Piperales. The type genus is Aristolochia L.
Lythrum salicaria or purple loosestrife is a flowering plant belonging to the family Lythraceae. It should not be confused with other plants sharing the name loosestrife that are members of the family Primulaceae. Other names include spiked loosestrife and purple Lythrum. This herbaceous perennial is native to Europe and Asia, and possibly Australia.
Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and parts of southwest Asia. The common name is primrose, or occasionally common primrose or English primrose to distinguish it from other Primula species also called primroses. None of these are closely related to the evening primroses.
Arisaema triphyllum, the jack-in-the-pulpit, bog onion, brown dragon or Indian turnip, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a corm. It is a highly variable species typically growing 30–65 centimetres (12–26 in) in height with three-part leaves and flowers contained in a spadix that is covered by a hood. It is native to eastern North America, occurring in moist woodlands and thickets from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to southern Florida and Texas.
Battus philenor, the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus Aristolochia. They are known for sequestering acids from the plants they feed on in order to defend themselves from predators by being poisonous when consumed. The adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers. Some species of Aristolochia are toxic to the larvae, typically tropical varieties. While enthusiasts have led citizen efforts to conserve pipevine swallowtails in their neighborhoods on the West coast, the butterfly has not been the subject of a formal program in conservation or protected in legislation. The butterfly is however of "Special Concern" in Michigan, which is on the Northern limit of its range.
Aristolochia littoralis, the calico flower or مورپنکھ بیل orelegant Dutchman's pipe, is a species of evergreen vine belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae.
Hakea petiolaris, commonly known as the sea-urchin hakea, is a shrub or small tree with cream-coloured and pink or purple flowers and woody fruit. It is endemic to the south west of Australia, occurring at the coastal plain, jarrah forest and wheatbelt regions, often at the ancient granite outcrops of Western Australia.
Araujia sericifera is a perennial vining plant in the genus Araujia, of the family Apocynaceae. The species was described in 1817 by the Portuguese botanist Félix Avelar Brotero. The synonym Araujia hortorum is in more frequent use in New Zealand. Its common names include moth plant, white bladderflower, common moth vine, cruel vine and false choko.
Melittis melissophyllum is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its common name is bastard balm. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Melittis. The genus name is derived from the Greek melitta, which is in turn from melissa.
Dactylorhiza maculata, known as the heath spotted-orchid or moorland spotted orchid, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae. It is widespread in mountainous regions across much of Europe from Portugal and Iceland east to Russia. It is also found in Algeria, Morocco, and western Siberia.
Aristolochia grandiflora, the pelican flower, is a deciduous vine with one of the world's largest flowers that emits an odor that smells like rotting feet, attracting flies.
Serapias vomeracea, common name long-lipped serapias or the plow-share serapias, is a species of orchid in the genus Serapias.
Arisarum vulgare, common name the friar's cowl or larus, is an herbaceous, perennial, with an underground rhizome plant in the genus Arisarum belonging to the family Araceae.
Stachys recta, commonly known as stiff hedgenettle or perennial yellow-woundwort, is herbaceous perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae.
Aristolochia chilensis, known locally as orejas de zorro, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Chile.
Aristolochia contorta, commonly known as northern pipevine, also known as birthwort, is a climbing perennial shrub.
Aristolochia macrophylla, Dutchman's pipe or pipevine, is a vine native to the eastern United States. Aristolochia macrophylla belongs to the plant family Aristolochiaceae and is found primarily along the Cumberland Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern portion of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. This species of plant has received considerable attention in the past few decades for the discovery of a potent compound called aristolochic acid, which has been the focus of debate due its harmful side effects.
Persoonia terminalis, also known as the Torrington geebung, is a shrub belonging to the family Proteaceae, and native to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland in eastern Australia. Reported as a subspecies of Persoonia nutans in 1981, it was described as a species by Lawrie Johnson and his colleague Peter Weston in 1991.
Aristolochia paucinervis is a herbaceous plant in the family Aristolochiaceae endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin.
Media related to Aristolochia rotunda at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Aristolochia rotunda at Wikispecies