Aristolochia rotunda

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Orthokaryota
Cladus: Neokaryota
Cladus: Photokaryota
Cladus: Diaphoretickes
Cladus: CAM
Regnum*: Archaeplastida
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Magnoliids
Ordo: Piperales

Familia: Aristolochiaceae
Subfamilia: Aristolochioideae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: Aristolochia rotunda
Subspecies: A. r. subsp. insularis – A. r. subsp. reichsteinii – A. r. subsp. rotunda
Name

Aristolochia rotunda L., Sp. Pl. 962. 1753.
Homonyms

Aristolochia rotunda Bove ex Duch. = Aristolochia fontanesii Boiss. & Reuter
Aristolochia rotunda Georgi = Aristolochia clematitis L.
Aristolochia rotunda Moc. & Sesse ex Duch. = Aristolochia bracteosa Duch.

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus II: 962. Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2018. Aristolochia rotunda. 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 online. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 29. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Aristolochia rotunda. Published online. Accessed: Dec. 29 2018. Reference page.
The Plant List 2013. Aristolochia rotunda in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Dec. 29.
Tropicos.org 2018. Aristolochia rotunda. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 29 Dec. 2018.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Aristolochia rotunda in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

Aristolochia rotunda, commonly known as smearwort or round-leaved birthwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Southern Europe.
Etymology

The genus name Aristolochia derives from the Greek words αριστος (aristos) meaning "the best" and 'lochéia' meaning ' childbirth', for the old use in promoting uterine contractions. The Latin name of the species rotunda refers to the rounded shape of the leaves.
Botanical description
Close-up on a flower of Aristolochia rotunda

The root reaches 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) in length and sometimes seems out of proportion to the slenderness of the plant. The unbranched stem has alternate, large, smooth-edged, heart-shaped and stalkless leaves that clasp the stem with enlarged, basal lobes. The solitary flowers have an unpleasant odor and they are tubular, about 2.5–5 centimetres (0.98–1.97 in) long, yellowish-green with a prominent, dark-brown or dark purple flap, both arising from the axils of the leaves. The flowering period extends from April through June.
Reproduction

The flowers of Aristolochia rotunda are hermaphrodite are pollinated by midges and other small insects (entomophily), attracted by the smell and by purple-brown color of the flowers. The small hairs inside the cup prevent the flies from coming out and flying away. After the pollination these hairs sag and allow them to escape.

This species is the only host plant of the caterpillars of a beautiful uncommon butterfly (Zerynthia polyxena). Eating the leaves of the plant the larvae this insect ingest aristolochic acid that make them poisonous to birds.
Distribution

This plant is common in Mediterranean countries. It is rarely naturalized in the British Isles.
Habitat

These plants occur along the banks of canals, edges of ditches and fields, sides of roads, meadows, slopes and forests. They prefer chalky soils and moist, shady areas, at an altitude of 0–800 metres (0–2,625 ft) above sea level.
Chemical constituents

A. rotunda contains aristolochic acids which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic.[1]
Subspecies

Aristolochia rotunda subsp. rotunda, autonym
Aristolochia rotunda subsp. insularis (E.Nardi & Arrigoni) Gamisans
Aristolochia rotunda subsp. reichsteinii E.Nardi

References

"Plants Containing Aristolochic Acid" (PDF). International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Additional references

Tela Botanica / 2000-2009 - Le réseau des Botanistes Francophones [1][permanent dead link].
Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982, Vol. I, pag 135
Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993
Björn Rulika, Stefan Wankeb, Matthias Nussa and Christoph Neinhuisb Pollination of Aristolochia pallida Willd. (Aristolochiaceae) in the Mediterranean - Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants - Volume 203, Pages 175-184