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Aristolochia acuminata Lam.
| Family Name: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Aristolochia indica var. magna, Aristolochia tagala |
| Common Name: | Indian Birthwort, Dutchman's Pipe, Native Dutchman's Pipe, Akar Ketola Hutan |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Vine & Liana |
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Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical and Subtropical Asia to Northeastern Queensland |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Woody vine with a climbing growth habit. |
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| Foliage | Leaves are heart-shaped with entire leaf margin (9 - 28 cm long, 4.5 - 16.5 cm wide). Venation is slightly sunken. |
| Flowers | Small flowers (1 - 1.3 cm long, 0.7 - 0.8 cm wide) have a unique tubular shape that resembles a pipe. |
| Fruit | Dry, dehiscent fruits are known as capsules. Seeds (0.8 - 0.9 cm long, 0.6 - 1 cm wide) are surrounded by a thin wing (0.1 - 0.2 cm long) that promotes their dispersal. |
| Habitat | Occurs in tropical rainforests and monsoon forests at altitudes of 0 - 500 m. |
| Associated Fauna | Birdwing butterflies (Ornithoptera spp., Trogonoptera spp. and Troides spp.) lay their eggs on young leaves of this species. When the caterpillars feed on the leaves, the leaf toxins are stored in their bodies and later incorporated into orange-red spines on the back of the adult body. Examples of known butterflies hosted by this plant include: Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus) and Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris). |
| Cultivation | Propagate by stem cuttings. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
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Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Caterpillar Food Plant |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 23 |
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| Species ID | 1319 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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