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California Dutchman's pipe, California pipevine, California snakeroot

common Dutchman's pipe, pipevine, woolly Dutchman's pipe

Habit Lianas, twining, to 5 m, woody. Lianas, twining, to 25 m, woody.
Young stem

ribbed, tomentose.

ribbed, tomentose.

Leaves

blade ovate to reniform, 4-12 × 3-10 cm, base cordate, sinus depth 2-6 cm, apex obtuse to rounded;

surfaces abaxially tomentose;

venation palmate-pinnate.

blade ovate to reniform, 9-20 × 8-15 cm, base cordate, sinus depth 1-2 cm, apex obtuse to acute;

surfaces abaxially tomentose;

venation palmate-pinnate.

Inflorescences

on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers;

peduncle bracteolate, 1-4 cm;

bracteoles reniform, to 8 mm.

on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers;

peduncle not bracteolate, 1-7 cm.

Flowers

calyx brown-purple, bent;

utricle pendent, ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid, 0.5-5 × 1-1.5 cm;

syrinx absent;

tube bent, cylindric, 1-3 × 1-1.7 cm;

annulus absent;

limb purplish, 3-lobed, lobes 2 × 2 cm, glabrous;

gynostemium 3-lobed, cylindric, 5-10 mm;

anthers 6;

ovary 6-locular, 1-4 cm.

calyx yellow-green, sharply bent;

utricle pendent, globose to cylindric, 0.5-1 × 0.5-0.8 cm;

syrinx absent;

tube bent, cylindric, 1-3 × 0.5 cm;

annulus rugulose;

limb yellow, 3-lobed, lobes triangular, 2 × 2 cm, glabrous;

gynostemium 3-lobed, globose, 3 mm;

anthers 6;

ovary 6-locular, 1-7 cm.

Capsule

ovoid to cylindric, 5-6 × 1-3 cm, dehiscence basipetal;

valves 6;

septa entire, not attached to valves.

ellipsoid to cylindric, 6-8 × 4-6 cm, dehiscence basipetal;

valves 3;

septa entire, not attached to valves.

Seeds

flat, triangular, 1-1.2 × 1 cm.

flat, triangular, 1 × 1 cm.

2n

= 28, 32.

= 28.

Aristolochia californica

Aristolochia tomentosa

Phenology Flowering spring. Flowering late spring–summer.
Habitat Along streams, in forest thickets, chaparral Alluvial soils along rivers and streams
Elevation 50-700(-1000) m (200-2300(-3300) ft) 0–500 m (0–1600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; NC; OK; TN; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
Discussion

The leaves of Aristolochia californica are eaten by larvae of the western swallowtail butterfly, Battus philenor hirsuta (Skinner) (W. H. Howe 1975).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Aristolochia tomentosa has escaped from cultivation in various places, including Virginia; this is not documented.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 3. FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Aristolochiaceae > Aristolochia Aristolochiaceae > Aristolochia
Sibling taxa
A. clematitis, A. coryi, A. erecta, A. macrophylla, A. maxima, A. pentandra, A. reticulata, A. serpentaria, A. tomentosa, A. watsonii, A. wrightii
A. californica, A. clematitis, A. coryi, A. erecta, A. macrophylla, A. maxima, A. pentandra, A. reticulata, A. serpentaria, A. watsonii, A. wrightii
Synonyms Isotrema tomentosa
Name authority Torrey: Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 128. (1857) Sims: Bot. Mag. 33: plate 1369. (1811)
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