Aristolochia grandiflora
Encyclopedia
Aristolochia grandiflora, or Pelican Flower, is a deciduous
vine
with enormous flowers that emit an odor that humans consider unpleasant but attractive to insects. The plant is native to the Caribbean
, and has been introduced to Florida
in the United States
as an attractor of butterflies
.
are also called "pelican flowers"; e.g. A. gigantea (Giant Pelican Flower) and A. nana (Tiny Pelican Flower).
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
with enormous flowers that emit an odor that humans consider unpleasant but attractive to insects. The plant is native to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and has been introduced to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as an attractor of butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
.
Other species
Other species of AristolochiaAristolochia
Aristolochia is a large plant genus with over 500 species. Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman's pipes, they are the namesake of the family . They are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates. Some species, like A. utriformis and A...
are also called "pelican flowers"; e.g. A. gigantea (Giant Pelican Flower) and A. nana (Tiny Pelican Flower).
See also
- Aristolochia erecta – Swanflower
- Aristolochia labiataAristolochia labiataAristolochia labiata is an ornamental plant which is native to Brazil.-See also:* Aristolochia erecta – Swanflower* Aristolochia gigantea - Giant Pelican Flower...
(or A. brasiliensis) - Rooster Flower - Aristolochia ornithocephala – Bird's Head Pipevine
External links
- Aristolochia grandiflora plant profile at USDA