Aristolochia rotunda: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Species of vine}} |
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{{Refimprove|date=December 2006}} |
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{{Italic title}} |
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{{Taxobox |
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{{speciesbox |
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| color = lightgreen |
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|name = Smearwort |
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|image = Aristolochia rotunda.jpg |
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| image_width = 220px |
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae |
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|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] |
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] |
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| subclassis = [[Magnoliidae]] |
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| ordo = [[Piperales]] |
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| familia = [[Aristolochiaceae]] |
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| binomial = ''Aristolochia rotunda'' |
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| binomial_authority = |
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'''''Aristolochia rotunda''''', commonly known as '''smearwort''' or '''round-leaved birthwort''', is a [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant|perennial]] plant native to Southern [[Europe]]. |
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==Etymology== |
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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. |
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The name Smearwort derived from its use as ointment. [[Poultice]]s derived from the leaves were used to heal chronic sores. Roots were often used on sheep to remedy cough and the seeds have found employment in the making of [[shagreen]]. |
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<!-- <s>In Germany it was used for fattening poultry hence the name ''fette henne''</s> '''(!!! Fette Henne is not Aristolochia! - Fette Henne is [[Sedum]])!!''' meaning fat hen. When taken orally it acts as a gentle [[laxative]]. Commenting this out. jmr --> |
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Smearwort leaves can be gathered when young and delicate, then boiled in broth. If grown in rich soil, the shoots may be cut when no bigger than a pencil and five inches high, to be peeled and boiled, then eaten as [[asparagus]]. |
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== Botanical description == |
== Botanical description == |
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[[File:Aristolochiaceae - Aristolochia rotunda.JPG|thumb|240px|left|Close-up on a flower of ''Aristolochia rotunda'']] The root reaches {{convert|5|-|25|cm}} 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 {{convert|2.5|-|5|cm}} 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. |
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Smearwort is a dark-green, succulent plant, which grows to around around 2 feet high, rising from stout, fleshy, branching root-stock, with large, thickish, arrow-shaped leaves and tiny yellowish-green flowers in many close spikes, 1 to 2 inches long, both terminal and arising from the axils of the leaves. The fruit is bladder-like and contains a single seed. |
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==Reproduction== |
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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. |
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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. |
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==Distribution== |
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This plant is common in Mediterranean countries. It is rarely naturalized in the British Isles. |
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==Habitat== |
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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 {{convert|0|-|800|m}} above sea level. |
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==Chemical constituents== |
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''A. rotunda'' contains [[aristolochic acid]]s which are [[carcinogenic]], [[mutagenic]], and [[nephrotoxic]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100A/mono100A-23.pdf | title = Plants Containing Aristolochic Acid | publisher = International Agency for Research on Cancer}}</ref> |
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==Subspecies== |
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* ''Aristolochia rotunda'' subsp. ''rotunda'', autonym |
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* ''Aristolochia rotunda'' subsp. ''insularis'' ([[E.Nardi]] & [[Pier Virgilio Arrigoni|Arrigoni]]) [[Gamisans]] |
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* ''Aristolochia rotunda'' subsp. ''reichsteinii'' [[E.Nardi]] |
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==Gallery== |
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<gallery> |
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File:Aristolochiaceae - Aristolochia rotunda-4.JPG|Plants of ''Aristolochia rotunda'' |
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File:Aristolochiaceae - Aristolochia rotunda-1.JPG|Flower of ''Aristolochia rotunda'' |
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File:Aristolochia rotunda detalle.jpg|The small hairs inside the cup |
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File:Aristolochiaceae - Aristolochia rotunda-3.JPG|Flower and leaf of ''Aristolochia rotunda'' |
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File:Aristolochiaceae - Aristolochia rotunda-2.JPG|Leaf of ''Aristolochia rotunda'' |
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</gallery> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==Additional references== |
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*Tela Botanica / 2000-2009 - Le réseau des Botanistes Francophones [http://www.tela-botanica.org/eflore/BDNFF/]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. |
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*[http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/flora.php?menuentry=soorten&id=1590 Smearwort on Interactive Flora of NW Europe (with picture)] |
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* Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982, Vol. I, pag 135 |
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* Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993 |
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* Björn Rulika, Stefan Wankeb, Matthias Nussa and Christoph Neinhuisb [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253007001351 Pollination of Aristolochia pallida Willd. (Aristolochiaceae) in the Mediterranean - Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants - Volume 203, Pages 175-184] |
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* {{Commons inline}} |
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* {{Wikispecies inline}} |
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q2861412}} |
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[[Category:Aristolochia|*]] |
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[[ |
[[Category:Aristolochia|rotunda]] |
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[[Category:Medicinal plants of Europe]] |
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[[Category:Plants described in 1753]] |
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[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:42, 19 October 2022
| Smearwort | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Genus: | Aristolochia |
| Species: | A. rotunda
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| Binomial name | |
| Aristolochia rotunda | |
Aristolochia rotunda, commonly known as smearwort or round-leaved birthwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Southern Europe.
Etymology
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit]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
[edit]This plant is common in Mediterranean countries. It is rarely naturalized in the British Isles.
Habitat
[edit]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
[edit]A. rotunda contains aristolochic acids which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic.[1]
Subspecies
[edit]- Aristolochia rotunda subsp. rotunda, autonym
- Aristolochia rotunda subsp. insularis (E.Nardi & Arrigoni) Gamisans
- Aristolochia rotunda subsp. reichsteinii E.Nardi
Gallery
[edit]-
Plants of Aristolochia rotunda -
Flower of Aristolochia rotunda -
The small hairs inside the cup -
Flower and leaf of Aristolochia rotunda -
Leaf of Aristolochia rotunda
References
[edit]- ^ "Plants Containing Aristolochic Acid" (PDF). International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Additional references
[edit]- 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
External links
[edit]
Media related to Aristolochia rotunda at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Aristolochia rotunda at Wikispecies
