View source for Aristolochia serpentaria

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Aristolochia serpentaria
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=2: 961. 1753
|year=1753
}}
|common_names=Virginia snakeroot
|special_status={{Treatment/ID/Special_status
|code=E
|label=Endemic
}}
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Aristolochia convolvulacea
|authority=Small
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Aristolochia hastata
|authority=Nuttall
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Aristolochia nashii
|authority=Kearney
|rank=species
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Aristolochia serpentaria var. hastata
|authority=(Nuttall) Duchartre
|rank=variety
}}
|hierarchy=Aristolochiaceae;Aristolochia;Aristolochia serpentaria
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Aristolochiaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Aristolochia]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>species</small>[[Aristolochia serpentaria]]</div></div>
|volume=Volume 3
|mention_page=
|treatment_page=
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Herbs,</b> erect to decumbent, to 0.6 m. <b>Young</b> stem ridged, glabrous to hispid. <b>Leaves</b>: petiole 0.5-3.5 cm. <b>Leaf</b> blade lanceolate to ovate, 5-15 × 1-5 cm, base truncate to cordate, sinus depth 0-1.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate; surfaces abaxially glabrous or hispid; venation pinnate. <b>Inflorescences</b> from base of stem, an additional flower in axil of stem leaf, racemes; peduncle bracteolate, to 1.5 cm; bracteoles lanceolate, to 3 mm. <b>Flowers</b>: calyx brown-purple, bent; utricle pendent, pear-shaped to ovoid, 0.5-5 cm; syrinx present, ringlike, 1 mm, oblique; tube bent, cylindric, 1 cm; annulus smooth; limb purplish brown, 3-lobed, lobes 0.5 × 0.5 cm, glabrous; gynostemium 3-lobed, globose to crown-shaped, 1.5 mm; anthers 6; ovary 3-locular, to 1.5 cm. <b>Capsule</b> globose, 0.8-2 × 1-2 cm, dehiscence basipetal; valves 6; septa absent. <b>Seeds</b> rounded, ovate, 0.5 × 0.4 cm. <b>2n</b> = 28.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|phenology=Flowering late spring–summer.
|habitat=Mesic forests
|elevation=50-1300 m
|distribution=Ala.;Ark.;Conn.;Del.;D.C.;Fla.;Ga.;Ill.;Ind.;Iowa;Kans.;Ky.;La.;Md.;Mich.;Miss.;Mo.;N.J.;N.Y.;N.C.;Ohio;Okla.;Pa.;S.C.;Tenn.;Tex.;Va.;W.Va.
|discussion=<p>Inflorescences of <i>Aristolochia serpentaria</i> often bear closed flowers that appear to be cleistogamous. Leaf shape varies greatly between populations, especially with regard to leaf width and size of basal lobes. This variability is especially interesting because eastern pipe-vine swallowtail butterflies, Battus philenor philenor (Linnaeus), use leaf shape as a search image when looking for <i>Aristolochia</i> leaves on which to lay their eggs.</p><!--
--><p>The dried rhizome, called Virginia snakeroot or serpentary, is a popular herbal tonic. In small doses, it is a gastric stimulant and diuretic. Large doses can cause violent gastric distress and respiratory paralysis (J. A. Duke 1985). The rhizome contains aristolochic acid and trimethyl amine, both potential carcinogens.</p><!--
--><p>Several Native American tribes used <i>Aristolochia serpentaria</i> for diverse medicinal purposes, including treatment of rheumatism, various pains, obstructions, worms, toothaches, sore throats, fever, sore noses, and colds, as a tonic, and mixed with saliva for snake bites (D. E. Moerman 1986).</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

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-->{{#Taxon:
name=Aristolochia serpentaria
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=species
|parent rank=genus
|synonyms=Aristolochia convolvulacea;Aristolochia hastata;Aristolochia nashii;Aristolochia serpentaria var. hastata
|basionyms=
|family=Aristolochiaceae
|phenology=Flowering late spring–summer.
|habitat=Mesic forests
|elevation=50-1300 m
|distribution=Ala.;Ark.;Conn.;Del.;D.C.;Fla.;Ga.;Ill.;Ind.;Iowa;Kans.;Ky.;La.;Md.;Mich.;Miss.;Mo.;N.J.;N.Y.;N.C.;Ohio;Okla.;Pa.;S.C.;Tenn.;Tex.;Va.;W.Va.
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.
|publication year=1753
|special status=Endemic
|source xml=https://bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation/src/2e0870ddd59836b60bcf96646a41e87ea5a5943a/coarse_grained_fna_xml/V3/V3_1115.xml
|genus=Aristolochia
|species=Aristolochia serpentaria
}}<!--

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