Author: |
Carl von Linnaeus, 1753 |
Family: |
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE |
Origin: |
S India, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, E Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam |
Soil: |
Drained - Rich |
Water: |
Maximum |
Sun: |
Medium - Maximum |
Thickness: |
4 Centimetres |
Height: |
3-4 Centimetres |
Flower: |
Greenish / Purple |
Propagate: |
Seeds/Root Cuttings |
Names: |
Indian Birthwort, Duck Flower |
Synonyms: |
Aristolochia maysorensis,
Duch.1864.
Aristolochia pandurata, Jacq. 1804.
Aristolochia lanceolata, Wight 1858.
Aristolochia indica var. magna. Benth. |
This member of the Aristolochiaceae family
was given this name by Carl von Linnaeus in 1753. It is found in southern
India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam, growing in a well drained
but rich soil with quite some water and some sun. The caudex can grow to
four centimetres in diameter and 30 centimetres long, the entire plant
to three or four centimetres in height. The flowers are greenish and purple.
This plant is
critical to the survival of the southern birdwing; Troides minos
and common birdwing; Troides helena, as well as crimson and
common rose butterflies; Pachliopta aristolochiae, who have
adopted to the poisonous aristolochic acid and nephrotoxic.
The genera name originated from
Latin Aristatus; 'awnes' for the awn-like leaf tips, OR, more
likely: 'best birth'; as AristoTheophrastus
describes it use at childbirth. The species name from its first finding
in India. |