Aristolochia L.
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Authority
Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.
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Family
Aristolochiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Perennial herbs or twining vines. Leaves alternate, mostly petioled, or entire, 3-7-lobed cordate or aurieulate palmately nerved. Flowers irregular. Calyx adnate to the ovary, at least to its base, the tube usually inflated around the style and contracted at the throat, the limb spreading or reflexed, entire, 3-6-lobed or appendaged. Stamens mostly 6; anthers adnate to the short style or stigma, 2-celled, the sacs longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary mostly 6-celled with 6 parietal placentae. Style 3-6-lobed. Capsule naked, septicidally 6- valved. Seeds very numerous, horizontal, compressed. [Named for its supposed medicinal properties.] About 180 species, widely distributed in tropica] and temperate regions. Type species: Aristolochia rotunda L.