Aristolochia

taxobox
name = "Aristolochia"


image_caption = Calico Flower ("Aristolochia littoralis", sometimes called "A. elegans")
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Magnoliids
ordo = Piperales
familia = Aristolochiaceae
genus = "Aristolochia"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Over 500, see text|

"Aristolochia" is a large plant genus with over 500 species. Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman's pipes, they are the namesake of the family (Aristolochiaceae). They are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates, but they are not native to Australia. Some species, like "A. utriformis" and "A. westlandii", are threatened with extinction.

Description

Aristolochia is a genus of evergreen and deciduous woody vines and herbaceous perennials. The smooth stem is erect or somewhat twining. The simple leaves are alternate and cordate, membranous, growing on leaf stalks. There are no stipules.

The flowers grow in the leaf axils. They are inflated and globose at the base, continuing as a long perianth tube, ending in a tongue-shaped, brightly colored lobe. There is no corolla. The calyx is one to three whorled, and three to six toothed. The sepals are united (gamosepalous). There are six to 40 stamens in one whorl. They are united with the style, forming a gynostemium. The ovary is inferior and is four to six locular.

These flowers have a specialized pollination mechanism. The plants are aromatic and their strong scent attracts insects. The inner part of the perianth tube is covered with hairs, acting as a fly-trap. These hairs then wither to release the fly, covered with pollen.

The fruit is dehiscent capsule with many endospermic seeds.

The common names "Dutchman's Pipe" and "Pipevine" (e.g. Common Pipevine, "A. durior") are an allusion to old-fashioned meerschaum pipes at one time common in the Netherlands and Northern Germany. "Birthwort" (e.g. European Birthwort, "A. clematitis") refers to these species' flower shape, resembling a birth canal. Some reference booksFact|date=November 2007 state that the scientific name "Aristolochia" was developed from Ancient Greek "aristos" ("άριστος") "best" + "locheia" ("λοχεία"), "childbirth" or "childbed".

Medical use and toxicity

"A. clematitis" was highly regarded as a medical plant since the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and on to until the Early Modern era; it plays also a minor role in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is however most notable for containing toxic aristolochic acid, sometimes in quantities fatal to humans.

Due to the Doctrine of signatures "birthwort" was used in childbirth. A preparation was given to women in labor to expel the placenta, but the aristolochic acid may just as well kill the patient. [Vandaveer (2002)]

Virginia Snakeroot ("A. serpentaria") is thus named because the root was used to treat snakebite, also with a rather uncertain degree of success. "A. pfeiferi", "A. rugosa" and "A. trilobata" are also used in folk medicine to cure snakebites. Aristolochic acid does indeed appear to bind and deactivate the Phospholipase A2 of certain snake venomsVerify source|date=November 2007Fact|date=November 2007.

OthersWho|date=November 2007 claim that a decoction of birthwort stimulates the production and increases the activity of leukocytes (white blood cells), or that pipevines contain a disinfectant which assists in wound healing. "Aristolochia bracteolata" is colloquially known as "Worm Killer" due to supposed antihelminthic activity.

Epidemiological and laboratory studiesFact|date=November 2007 have shown the toxicity of herbal remedies containing plant species of the genus "Aristolochia". Herbal compounds containing "Aristolochia" are classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. [ACS (2006)]

In July 1999, two cases of nephropathy associated with the use of Chinese botanical preparations were reported in the United KingdomFact|date=November 2007. These preparations were shown to contain aristolochic acid. Biopsy samples showed extensive loss of cortical tubules with interstitial fibrosis. In 1993, a series of end-stage renal disease cases had been reportedFact|date=November 2007 from Belgium associated with a weight loss treatment, where "Stephania tetrandra" in a herbal preparation was suspected of being substituted with "Aristolochia fangchi" [Apparently due to a confusion between "han fang ji" (漢防己, "Chinese "fang ji" - "S. tetrandra") and "guan fang ji" (廣防己, "Broad "fang ji" - "A. fanchi").] . More than 105 patients were identified with nephropathy following the ingestion of this preparation from the same clinic from 1990-1992. Many required renal transplantation or dialysis. Subsequent follow up of these patients has shownFact|date=November 2007 they are at an increased risk of urological cancer. Note that in TCM neither plant is used for prolonged weight loss treatments.

It appears as if contamination of grain with European Birthwort ("A. clematitis") is a cause of Balkan nephropathy, a severe renal disease occurring in parts of southeastern Europe. [Grollman "et al." (2007)]

Other uses

Due to their spectacular flowers, several species are used as ornamental plants.

Many species of "Aristolochia" are food for larvae of Lepidoptera, namely swallowtail butterflies. These become unpalatable to most predators by eating the plants. Lepidoptera feeding on pipevines include:

Choreutidae
* "Millieria" leaf miners
Papilionidae
* False Apollo ("Archon apollinus")
* "Bhutanitis"
** Bhutan Glory ("Bhutanitis lidderdalii") - known from "Aristolochia griffithi" and maybe othersVerify source|date=November 2007
Nymphalidae
* Striped Blue Crow ("Euploea mulciber")
* Cairns Birdwing ("Ornithoptera euphorion") and Richmond Birdwing ("O. richmondia"). "A. littoralis" is fatal for their caterpillars, and this invasive weed threatens to displace the Aristolochiaceae properly utilized by these butterfly.
* Troidini
** Great Windmill ("Atrophaneura dasarada") - only known from "Aristolochia griffithi"
** Common Batwing ("Atrophaneura varuna") - only known from "Aristolochia kaempferi"
** "Troides plateni" - only known from Indian Birthwort ("A. tagala")
** Rajah Brooke Birdwing ("Trogonoptera brookiana") - only known from "Aristolochia foveolata"

Selected species

* "Aristolochia acuminata"
* "Aristolochia acutifolia"
* "Aristolochia allemanii"
* "Aristolochia anguicida" – Harlequin Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia arborea"
* "Aristolochia arcuata"
* "Aristolochia baetica"
* "Aristolochia bilabiata" – West Indian Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia bilobata" – Twolobe Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia bracteolata" – Worm Killer
* "Aristolochia bridgesii" – Chilean Yellow Fox's Ears
* "Aristolochia burelae"
* "Aristolochia californica" – California Pipevine, California Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia cauliflora"
* "Aristolochia caudata"
* "Aristolochia clematitis" – European Birthwort
* "Aristolochia chachapoyensis"
* "Aristolochia chapmaniana" (syn. "A. tonduzii")
* "Aristolochia chilensis" – Chilean Fox's Ears
* "Aristolochia colossifolia" – Giant-leaved Aristolochia
* "Aristolochia constricta"
* "Aristolochia cordiflora"
* "Aristolochia cordigera"
* "Aristolochia cornuta"
* "Aristolochia coryi" – Cory's Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia cucurbitifolia"
* "Aristolochia cucurbitoides"
* "Aristolochia cymbifera"
* "Aristolochia daemoninoxia"
* "Aristolochia dalyi"
* "Aristolochia delavayi"
* "Aristolochia deltantha"
* "Aristolochia deltoidea"
* "Aristolochia durior" (syn. "A. macrophylla") – Common Dutchman's Pipe, Common Pipevine
* "Aristolochia erecta" – Swanflower
* "Aristolochia eriantha"
* "Aristolochia esperanzae"
* "Aristolochia fangchi"
* "Aristolochia filipendulina"
* "Aristolochia fimbriata" – White-veined Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia foetida" – Jalisco Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia foveolata"
* "Aristolochia galeata"
* "Aristolochia gibertii" (syn "A. giberti"Verify source|date=November 2007 )
* "Aristolochia gigantea" – Giant Pelican Flower, Brazilian Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia glandulosa" – Cuban Birthwort
* "Aristolochia gorgona"
* "Aristolochia grandiflora" – Pelican Flower
* "Aristolochia griffithi"
* "Aristolochia guentheri"
* "Aristolochia hainanensis"
* "Aristolochia hians"
* "Aristolochia holtzei"
* "Aristolochia inflata"
* "Aristolochia iquitensis"
* "Aristolochia kaempferi"
* "Aristolochia kewensis"
* "Aristolochia klugii" – Moth-winged Birthwort
* "Aristolochia indica"
* "Aristolochia islandica"
* "Aristolochia labiata" (syn. "A. brasiliensis") – Mottled Dutchman's Pipe, Rooster Flower
* "Aristolochia leuconeura"
* "Aristolochia lindneri"
* "Aristolochia lingulata"
* "Aristolochia littoralis" (syn. "A. elegans") – Elegant Dutchman's Pipe, Calico Flower
* "Aristolochia longa" – Long Aristolochia, Sarrasine
* "Aristolochia macroura"
* "Aristolochia manchuriensis"
* "Aristolochia mathewsii"
* "Aristolochia maxima" – Florida Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia nana" – Tiny Pelican Flower
* "Aristolochia obliqua"
* "Aristolochia odoratissima" – Fragrant Dutchman's Pipe, "contrayerva" (on Jamaica)
* "Aristolochia orbicularis"
* "Aristolochia ornithocephala" – Bird's Head Pipevine
* "Aristolochia ovalifolia"
* "Aristolochia pallida"
* "Aristolochia paulistana"
* "Aristolochia peltata" – Peltate Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia pentandra" – Marsh's Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia pfeiferi" – "dubsangid" (Kuna)
* "Aristolochia pilosa"
* "Aristolochia pistolochia"
* "Aristolochia pontica"
* "Aristolochia prostrata"
* "Aristolochia pubera"
* "Aristolochia raja"
* "Aristolochia reticulata" – Red River Snakeroot, Texas Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia ridicula"
* "Aristolochia ringens" – Gaping Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia rotunda" – Smearwort, Round Birthwort (Bush), English Mercury, Mercury Goosefoot, Allgood, Tola Bona, "Fat Hen"
* "Aristolochia rugosa" – Mat Root (Trinidad and Tobago)
* "Aristolochia schippii"
* "Aristolochia scytophylla"
* "Aristolochia sempervirens"
* "Aristolochia serpentaria" – Virginia Snakeroot
* "Aristolochia silvatica"
* "Aristolochia sipho"
* "Aristolochia socorroensis"
* "Aristolochia sprucei" – Spruce-leaved Aristolochia
* "Aristolochia stomachoides"
* "Aristolochia surinamensis"
* "Aristolochia tagala" – Indian Birthwort
* "Aristolochia taliscana"
* "Aristolochia thozetii"
* "Aristolochia thwaitesii"
* "Aristolochia tomentosa" – Woolly Pipevine, Woolly Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia tricaudata"
* "Aristolochia trilobata" – "Bejuco de Santiago", Tref (Trinidad and Tobago)
* "Aristolochia tuberosa"
* "Aristolochia urupaensis" – Heart-leaved Aristolochia
* "Aristolochia utriformis"
* "Aristolochia watsonii" – Watson's Dutchman's Pipe
* "Aristolochia weddellii"
* "Aristolochia westlandii"
* "Aristolochia wrightii"
* "Aristolochia yunnanensis"

Formerly placed here

* "Abuta amara" (as "Aristolochia amara")

ee also

* "Nepenthes aristolochioides", a carnivorous plant with pitchers resembling "Aristolochia" flowers
* Opodeldoc

Footnotes

References

*
* (2006): [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Known_and_Probable_Carcinogens.asp?sitearea=PED Known and Probable Carcinogens (Including Industrial Processes, Occupational Exposures, Infectious Agents, Chemicals, and Radiation).] Version of 02/03/2006. Retrieved 2007-NOV-12.
* (2007): Aristolochic acid and the etiology of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy. "PNAS" 104(20): 12129-12134. doi|10.1073/pnas.0701248104 PMID 17620607 [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0701248104v1.pdf PDf fulltext] [http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/0701248104/DC1 Supporting information]
* (2002): [http://www.killerplants.com/weird-plants/20020110.asp How did the shape of a flower cause the death of women?] . Version of 2002-JAN-10. Retrieved 2007-NOV-12.

External links

* Pictures of [http://www.chilebosque.cl/herb/archil.html "Aristolochia chilensis"] and [http://www.chilebosque.cl/herb/arbrid.html "Aristolochia bridgesii"]
* http://jollinart.centerblog.net/