Home › A › Aristolochia (About species are included)

Aristolochia (About species are included)

About 180 species are included here, and they are broadly dispersed over the temperate and warmer regions. To those described on pp. 112-3, Vol. I., the following should now be added:

A. altissima (very tall). fl. pale yellowish-brown, striped reddish-brown; perianth about 1 1/2in. long, the tube gradually enlarged to the limb, which is yellow within. June to August. l. bright, glossy green, petiolate, 2in. to 3in. long, ovate-cordate, obtuse or acute, waved; petioles 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. Sicily and Algeria. Half-hardy. (B. M. 6586.) A. elegans (elegant).* fl. solitary, on long pedicels; perianth tube pale yellowish-green, 1 1/2in. long, rather inflated, the limb suddenly expanding into a nearly shallow cup, which externally is white, veined purple, and internally rich purplish-brown, with irregular, white marks. August. l. 2in. to 3in. long and broad, broadly reniform-cordate; petioles 1in. to 2 1/2in. long, very slender. Brazil, 1883. Stove climber. (B. M. 6909.) A. hians (gaping). fl. bronzy-green outside, the veins and margin of the beak light yellowish-green, the inside of the broad lobe dull yellowish-green, marked purple-brown, the inside of the beak covered with brownish-purple hairs, the inside of the inflated tube pale greenish, hairy, spotted purple-brown in the upper half. September. l. roundish in outline, deeply cordate at base, obtusely rounded at apex, green, reticulated beneath; stipules 1in. in diameter, with wavy margins. Venezuela, 1887. Stove. A. longifolia (long-leaved). fl. purplish-brown, of a good size; tube yellowish, with dull purplish veins outside, abruptly bent upon itself; limb roundish, about 2 1/2in. in diameter, the lower part bent as if pinched in the middle. l. long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Stems long, climbing. Rootstock short, woody Hong Kong, 1886. Stove. (B. M. 6884.) A. ridicula (ridiculous). fl. 3 1/2in. to 4 1/2in. long; tube dull whitish, veined purplish-brown, bent upon itself, the basal part inflated; limb shortly revolute, prolonged from the upper part of the sides into two long lobes, "reminding one of a donkey's ears"; they are tawny or cream, with dark purplish-brown, dendritic markings, sparsely purple-brown hairy. l. bright green, orbicular or orbicular-reniform, cordate at base, covered with short hairs. Stem, petioles, and pedicels clothed with spreading hairs. Brazil, 1886. Stove climber. (G. C. n. s., xxvi., p. 361.) A. salpinx (trumpet). fl. about 1 1/2in. long, inflated at base, then abruptly constricted and bent upwards in the form of a dorsally compressed, trumpet-shaped tube, with an oblique mouth, outside cream-coloured, with purple network of veins, inside lighter, the upper lip with a yellow central blotch and numerous purplish spots around it, the margins slightly reflexed, marked with purple lines and having a few short, purple hairs. l. cordate-ovate, acuminate, glabrous, 4in. to 6in. long, 2 1/2in. to 3in. broad. Paraguay, 1886. Stove. (G. C. n. s., xxvi., pp. 456-7.) A. Westlandi (A. B. Westland's). fl. pendulous, chiefly produced from towards the base of the plant; perianth tube brown and yellow, cylindric, the limb pale greenish-yellow, veined and speckled purple, 6in. long, broadly rounded-ovate; peduncle 3in. to 5in. long, one-flowered. March. l. 6in. to 10in. long, shortly petiolate, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous above, strongly nerved and pubescent beneath. Stem short, woody; branches tall-climbing. China, 1886. Stove. (B. M. 7011.)