Aristolochia trilobata L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Aristolochiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aristolochia trilobata L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Woody twining vine to 5 m long; stems cylindrical, glabrous, smooth, pinkish-tinged at nodes. Leaf blades 8-14 x 10-16 cm, trilobate, with palmate venation, coriaceous, lower surface densely covered with minute whitish hairs, the lobes deep or shallow, with obtuse apex, the base subcordiform or truncate, the margins entire or wavy; petioles 2-4.5 cm long, cylindrical, glabrous; pseudostipules to 1.5 cm long, rounded or reniform, clasping the stem. Calyx yellowish with purple network, the tube to 7 cm long, the limb with a long hanging lobe or tail. Fruit 6-8.5 cm long, nearly cylindrical, 6-ribbed. Seeds numerous, ca. 7 mm long, flattened, triangular.

  • Discussion

    Common names: pelican plant, tobacco pipe.

  • Distribution

    In moist forest. Bordeaux Mountain (B583, A5080). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; from Central America to northern South America and the West Indies.

    West Indies| South America| Central America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|