Aristolochia elegans Mast.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Aristolochiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Woody, twining vine to 7 m long; stems glabrous, cylindrical, smooth. Leaf blades 7-9 X 6-10 cm, reniform or ovate, with palmate venation, chartaceous, upper surface shiny, lower surface glaucous, with prominent veins, the apex obtuse, the base cordiform, the margins entire; petioles slender, 1-3 cm long, slightly swollen at base; pseudostipules pale green, clasping the stem, 1- 1.5 cm long. Flowers hanging, solitary at leaf axils. Calyx forming a sigmoid tube, spreading at upper portion, forming a saucershaped limb, the tube 2.5-3.5 cm long, light green, the limb 5- 7 cm wide, with irregular, maroon spots, the throat dark maroon, the anthers connivent. Fruit 5-6 cm long, turning from green to brown, nearly cylindrical, 5-ribbed, long-pointed at both ends, the apex with persistent, stigmatic surface; pedicels 3-4 cm long. Seeds numerous, 6-7 mm long, thin, flattened, triangular to ovate.
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Discussion
Note: The name Aristolochia littoralis Parodi has been used for this taxon in the Caribbean following Pfeifer (1966), who placed A. elegans into synonymy under A. littoralis. This notion has been challenged by F. Gonzalez (1990), who considered A. littoralis a distinct species, restricted to Argentina.
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Distribution
In secondary growth, as an escape. Apparently a recent introduction since it is restricted to Carolina (A4136). Also on Tortola; native to South America, but cultivated throughout the West Indies.
West Indies| South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America|