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Aristolochia indica

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Photo from Floraofbangladesh.com.


The flower from India.Mart.com.


The fruit by Delonix, Ayurwiki.org.


Caudex from Amsar.com.

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.


The leaves by Delonix, Ayurwiki.org.