Aristolochia californica

Lianas, twining, to 5 m, woody. Young stem ribbed, tomentose. Leaves: petiole 1-2.5 cm. Leaf 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. Inflorescences on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers; peduncle bracteolate, 1-4 cm; bracteoles reniform, to 8 mm. 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. Capsule ovoid to cylindric, 5-6 × 1-3 cm, dehiscence basipetal; valves 6; septa entire, not attached to valves. Seeds flat, triangular, 1-1.2 × 1 cm. 2n = 28, 32.

Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Along streams, in forest thickets, chaparral
Elevation: 50-700(-1000) m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

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

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.