Aristolochia trilobata L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.

  • Family

    Aristolochiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aristolochia trilobata L.

  • Description

    Description - Slightly woody vine, twining, 3-5 m in length. Stems slender, shiny, cylindrical, glabrous, pink on the younger portions. Leaves alternate; blades trilobed, 8-14 x 10-16 cm, coriaceous, the lobes shallow to quite deep, the apex rounded or obtuse, the base subcordiform or truncate, the margins entire or sinuate; upper surface dark green, shiny, glabrous, with palmate venation, somewhat sunken and yellowish; lower surface pale green, puberulous, the venation reticulate, prominent and puberulous; petioles robust, cylindrical, 2-4.5 cm long, glabrous, dilated at the base; pseudostipules rounded or reniform, 1-1.5 cm long, covering the stem. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle up to 7 cm long; utricle ellipsoid, 2.5-4 cm long; tube straight, 4.5-7.5 cm long, ascending, forming an angle of 50° to 60° with the utricle; limb unilobed, greenish yellow with dark violet spots, the upper lobe with a caudate appendage, 10-31 cm long, ascending-arcuate. Capsules oblong, 6-8 cm long, with 6 longitudinal ribs; seeds numerous, membranaceous, triangular, ca. 7 mm long, compressed.

    Phenology - Flowering and fruiting almost throughout the year.

    Conservation Status - Native, locally common.

  • Common Names

    bejuco de santiago, cachimbo, panitos, tobacco pipe