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Aristolochiaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Aristolochia paucinervis

Aristolochia paucinervis

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

Aristolochia paucinervis is highly toxic due to the presence of 'aristolochic acid' which is also carcinogenic; it is particularly dangerous for the kidneys. When the roots are used over a long period, they can cause irreversible kidney damage, haematuria (blood in the urine) and limb paralysis[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

Aristolochia paucinervis is a plant of humid and sub-humid to sub-arid Mediterranean bioclimates[1]. In the wild the plant prefers moist humid to dry substrates, stony, clay and sandy soils, relatively poor with a basic pH. It grows in full sun to mid-shade and flowers in spring[1]. The plant is pollinated by flies, which it attracts by producing a strong smell from the flowers which are typically saxophone-shaped[1]. Most species in this genus have malodorous flowers, often smelling like decaying flesh[2]. They are pollinated by the small flies that are attracted to the flowers by these foetid odours and by the purple-brown colour of the flowers. The flies enter the flower when the stigmas are receptive and then become trapped in the hairy throat of the flower until after the anthers dehisce, thus ensuring pollination[3, 4, 5].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn. Pre-soak stored seed for 48 hours in hand-hot water and surface sow in a greenhouse[6]. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 20°c[6]. Stored seed germinates better if it is given 3 months cold stratification at 5°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division in autumn[3]. Root cuttings in winter[3]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Aristolochia+paucinervis>

Pollinators

Flies

References

  1. [1]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  2. [2]Scented Flora of the World. — Genders. R. · Robert Hale. London. · 1994 · ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  5. [5]Flora of N. America — http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ ↩︎An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
  6. [6]Growing from Seed. Volume 2. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1988 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
  7. [7]Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. — Yeung. Him-Che. · Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles · 1985 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.
  8. [8]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
  9. [9]The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants — Chevallier. A. · Dorling Kindersley. London · 1996 · ISBN 9-780751-303148 ↩︎An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
  10. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎