Aristolochiaceae
Birthwort Family
The Aristolochiaceae family (Birthwort Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Piperales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 8 species across 2 genera. Members range from climbers to shrubs. Well-represented genera include Aristolochia and Thottea. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Bracteated Birthwort, Calico-Flower and Indian Birthwort.
Browse all 8 species ↓
Heart-shaped alternate leaves on twining climbers; flowers dispense with true petals altogether, instead forming a curved, often pungent-smelling calyx tube shaped like a pipe or trumpet that briefly traps small flies to ensure pollination before releasing them.
Every part of the plant contains aristolochic acid, toxic to human kidneys, even though several swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feed on it exclusively and sequester the toxin for their own defence.
Which Aristolochiaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Aristolochiaceae species.
To check whether a plant belongs to Aristolochiaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Piperaceae
Compare against Piperaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare PiperaceaeEuphorbiaceae
Compare against Euphorbiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare EuphorbiaceaeOrchidaceae
Compare against Orchidaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare OrchidaceaeAsteraceae
Compare against Asteraceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AsteraceaeAll 8 species in ARISTOLOCHIACEAE
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