Dutchman's Pipe Aristolochia Gigantea
by Olga Hamilton
Title
Dutchman's Pipe Aristolochia Gigantea
Artist
Olga Hamilton
Medium
Photograph
Description
Watermark will not appear on final prints
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.
Aristolochia is a large plant genus with over 500 species that is the namesake (type genus) of the family (Aristolochiaceae). Its members are commonly known as birthwort, pipevine or Dutchman's pipe and are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates. Some species, like A. utriformis and A. westlandii, are threatened with extinction.
Uploaded
December 22nd, 2014
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