Aristolochia californica

Aristolochia californica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Aristolochiaceae
Genus: Aristolochia
Species: A. californica
Binomial name
Aristolochia californica
Torr

Aristolochia californica, the California pipevine or California Dutchman's-pipe is a perennial woody vine that is endemic to California.

Description

Aristolochia californica is a deciduous vine with purple-striped curving pipe-shaped flowers which give rise to winged capsular green fruits. After it blooms, the plant sends out new green heart-shaped leaves. The vines grow from rhizomes to a length of over twenty feet and can become quite thick in circumference at maturity. This plant is common in moist woods and in riparian zones along streams in Northern and Central California.

Pollination

The California pipevine's flowers have an unpleasant odor which is attractive to tiny carrion-feeding insects. The insects crawl into the convoluted flowers and often become stuck and disoriented for some time, picking up pollen as they wander. Most eventually escape; the plant is not insectivorous as was once thought. Fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae) may prove to be the effective pollinators. G.L. Stebbins suggested that pollination by deceit is presumed.[1]

California pipevine swallowtail butterfly

The larva of the California pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor hirsuta) relies on California pipevine as its only food source. The red-spotted black caterpillars consume the leaves of the plants and then use the flowers as a secure, enclosed place to undergo metamorphosis. The plant contains a toxin which when ingested by the caterpillars makes them unpalatable to predators.

See also

References

  1. ↑ (California Native Plant Soc. Newsletter, 1971 Vol. 7 p. 4-5)

Further reading

External links


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