Aristolochia gigantea

Aristolochia gigantea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: A. gigantea
Binomial name
Aristolochia gigantea
Mart. & Zucc.

Aristolochia gigantea (Brazilian Dutchman's pipe, giant pelican flower; syn. Aristolochia sylvicola Standl.) is an ornamental plant native to Brazil, typical of Bahia and Minas Gerais vegetation. It has spectacular but foul smelling flowers and can be grown from seeds or by cuttings. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius. A. gigantea and other tropical Dutchman's pipe varieties pose a threat to the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. The butterfly confuses A. gigantea with its native host plant and will lay eggs on it although pipevine swallowtail caterpillars cannot survive on the foliage.[1]

References

  1. "Aristolochia gigantia: A Death Sentence for Pipevine Swallowtails" by Guest Photographer, June 8. http://www.monarchbutterflygarden.net/aristolochia-gigantea-kills-pipevine-swallowtails/

External links

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