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October 31, 2008 : Aristolochia grandiflora (tentative)
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Plant Family / Families: Aristolochiaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Aristolochia grandiflora Sw.
Institution: UBC Department of Botany
Name Location: cultivated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to Ruth for both today's photograph and write-up. I've tentatively identified the plant as Aristolochia grandiflora. Ruth writes:
If the stink doesn't kill you, the aristolochic acid will! Beware of the dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia)! Species of Aristolochia such as Aristolochia clematitis have been traditionally used in both western and Chinese medicine, with occasionally fatal outcomes. When it doesn't kill, it has also been known to cause nephropathy or liver disease.
The flowers of these particular plants smell of dead mouse in order to attract fly pollinators. My professor had one in class the other day and offered to let us smell it...it was dreadful! I couldn't get the rotten mousey stench out of my nose for hours.
The genus contains approx. 120 species of woody vines and perennials (ref: Mabberley's The Plant-Book). The floral architecture of aristolochias is obviously noteworthy. The flowers are inflated chambers formed by a fusion of the sepals. The corolla (ring of petals) is absent as the sepals are showy and ornate. The structure forming the pipe-like shape is called the tube and the tissues that fan out at the end to display the reproductive parts are called the limbs. The stamens and the style come together to make a gynostemium, with the ovary being inferior to the flower parts. For an illustration, and to see photographs of more species, see Aristolochias Native to Belize.
The name aristos means "best" and locheia means "childbirth", hence the families common name of the birthworts. In conclusion, study and admire this flower from a distance. Happy Halloween! BOO!
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at October 31, 2008 5:32 PM
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Comments
Posted by: SandyinZ4 at October 31, 2008 6:42 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdanna/2737010781/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdanna/2737010127/
are photos I took this summer of fallen flowers from a similar plant on my daughter's face. The vine is growing on her professor's porch in LA. I think she collected it in Chiapas, Mexico.
Posted by: Carla D'Anna at October 31, 2008 7:24 PM
More photos of the full vine and other flowers here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdanna/page39/
Posted by: Carla D'Anna at October 31, 2008 7:28 PM
Such and interesting plant to end the month with. I learned more as usual and appriecate the write-ups. Very good photograph.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 31, 2008 8:11 PM
Very interesting write-up and photos -- but obviously from a distance! Thanks Ruth. Oh, and glad I missed the class the other day!
Posted by: Knox at November 1, 2008 7:59 AM
que belo. to comovida!!!
Posted by: siusi at November 1, 2008 8:13 AM
thank you ruth and daniel
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at November 1, 2008 4:08 PM
Gorgeous. I am an artist that stumbled on this site researching the use of lichen for wall coverings, like, instead of paint. This image is striking and would be a lovely sculpture, formed of silver sheet with repoussed veins. Kinda looks like that Hornsbottle (sp) shape, the 3D Moebius strip...
Posted by: Rebekah at November 1, 2008 6:18 PM
My mom has this plant in her yard. I bought it from an internet site and planted it for her. Her plant blooms a little bit darker red/burgundy flowers and we expected a disgusting scent but instead it smells like lemons. Are their different kinds of dutchman's pipe or did her soil affect the outcome?
Thank you in advance,
Shari's daughter
Posted by: Shari's kid at November 2, 2008 12:05 PM
She's right--I was prepared to gag but found that it smelled more like a magnolia than a mouse.
Posted by: her mom at November 2, 2008 3:56 PM
Gertrude Jekyel used to specify this vine for arbors,etc. There are some native to North America that I want to experiment with, that smell good.
Posted by: Connie at November 4, 2008 5:13 AM
I've much enjoyed this week of creepy stinky flowers and plants. :)
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at October 30, 2009 5:53 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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This has been a fun week but I am ready to go back to the 'nice' flowers.