Aristolochia chilensis

Canada, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aristolochia_chilensis_(8640786996).jpg">

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Magnoliids
Ordo: Piperales

Familia: Aristolochiaceae
Subfamilia: Aristolochioideae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: Aristolochia chilensis
Name

Aristolochia chilensis Bridges ex Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 20: t. 1680. 1835 publ. 1834.

Synonyms

Howardia setigera Klotzsch

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Regional: Western South America
Chile (Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Reg. Metropolitana)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Bridges, T.C., 1834. Edward's Botanical Register 20: t. 1680.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. [1]

Links

Hassler, M. 2018. Aristolochia chilensis. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 27. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Aristolochia chilensis. Published online. Accessed: Dec. 27 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Aristolochia chilensis in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 27.
Tropicos.org 2018. Aristolochia chilensis. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 27.

Vernacular names
español: oreja de zorro

Aristolochia chilensis, known locally as orejas de zorro (fox ears), is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Chile.

Description

A. chilensis is a perennial vine whose stalks can grow to about 1 meter (3.3 ft) in length.[1] The climbing stalks have boomerang-shaped alternate leaves.[2][3] The flowers may be yellowish or brownish-purple in color, and emit an unpleasant odor that attracts the flies which pollinate it. Retorse (downward-pointing) hairs on the flower, similar to those of pitcher plants, impede the departure of the flies.[1] Once trapped within the utricule (a sac-like structure of the flower), pollen from the stamens is deposited on the flies; pollen they brought with them is deposited on the stigmata as they enter. Within the flower, they are sustained by nectaries for a day, while the stamens ripen and the flower withers. This releases tension in the retorse hairs and frees the flies.[3] The flower usually grows between 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall with the scrambling vines growing to about 1 meter (3 feet).[1]
Aristolochia chilensis hairs (close up)
Distinguishing characteristics
Aristolochia chilensis flower with downward pointing hairs

Members of the genus Aristolochia are known for fly pollination and are similar to pitcher plants and flytraps. The main difference is that those plants digest the insects for nutrients, while the Aristolochia use them mainly for pollination.[3] Every part of the plant is also poisonous if ingested by humans or animals. Caterpillars and the swallowtail butterfly actually feed on the leaves, flowers, and shoots of the plant. Caterpillars can especially tolerate the acids contained within the plant and, in turn, cause them to become poisonous to predators. The plant is also zygomorphic and usually has foetid flowers to attract pollinators (flies) while repelling predators. The aroma of the flower especially helps with its survival.[3]
Environment and habitat

This plant is only native to Chile and is found in low altitude valleys and coastal mountains. They tend to be found in coastal areas from 0 – 500 meters and mountains from 500 – 2000 meters in altitude. They thrive in very dry areas with little to no rainfall and can tolerate droughts. They also thrive on full exposure to sunlight and grow only on level or northern facing slopes. The plant can not handle snow but it can tolerate brief freezing spells of approximately -5 °C which is the approximate temperature of the morning frost in Chile. They also need adequate drainage to mature properly.[4]
Ecology

Aristolochia chilensis, like the related Aristolochia bridgesii, is a larval food source for the gold rim swallowtail butterfly, Battus polydamas.[1]
Uses and chemical components

Aristolochia chilensis has ornamental and medicinal value[4] and has also yielded the new 4-aryltetralone (−)-aristotetralone.[5] Being in the family Aristolociaceae, Aristolochia chilensis contain aristolochic acid. This has typically been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with ailments from mouth ulcers to arthritis. However, the use of this acid for medicinal purposes has been banned in Europe since 2001 and China in 2003 due to studies showing that the acids are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic, thus causing much more harm then good.[3] Although they do not smell pleasant, they are often used for groundcovers in xeriscaping.
Citations

La Fountaine 2009.
Plant World Seeds.
Edwards.
http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH0472.htm

Urzua, Alejandro; Freyer, Alan J.; Shamma, Maurice (1987). "(−)-aristotetralone: A 4-aryltetralone from Aristolochia chilensis". Phytochemistry. 26 (8): 2414–2415. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84736-6.

References
Edwards, Sara, Neotropical Aristolochiaceae, Kew Gardens, retrieved July 2, 2012
La Fountaine, Eric (2009), Aristolochia chilensis, University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, archived from the original on June 22, 2011, retrieved July 2, 2012
Aristolochia chilensis, Plant World Seeds, retrieved July 2, 2012