ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

PIPEVINE FAMILY

Michael R. Mesler and Karen Lu

Perennial from rhizome, woody vine, shrub, aromatic
Stem branched, sometimes nearly all underground
Leaves simple, basal, cauline, or arising singly from rhizome, alternate; blade generally cordate, entire
Inflorescence: flower generally solitary, axillary or terminal
Flower bisexual, radial or bilateral; sepals 3, free or fused; petals generally 0; stamens generally 6 or 12, free or fused to style; pistil generally 1, ovary generally inferior or partly so, chambers generally 6
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds many
Genera in family: 10 genera, 600 species: mainly tropical, warm temp; some cultivated (Aristolochia , Asarum )
Reference: [Gregory 1956 Amer J Bot 43:110–122]

ASARUM

WILD-GINGER

Perennial from horizontal rhizome at soil surface or deep, ± vertical rhizome, spreading or clumped, gingery-aromatic
Leaves basal or arising singly from rhizome, generally evergreen; blade cordate to reniform
Inflorescence: flower terminal, at ground level
Flower radial, generally dark colored; sepals 3, persistent, adherent into a tube or fused; stamens 12, free from style
Fruit: fleshy capsule
Seed with fleshy appendage, dispersed by ants
Species in genus: 90 species: n temp
Etymology: (Greek: derivation unknown)

Native

A. lemmonii S. Watson

Plant generally spreading, forming loose mat; rhizome near soil surface, horizontal
Leaf: blade uniformly green
Inflorescence: peduncle bent downward in flower
Flower: calyx tube inner surface white, generally not striped (rarely with a partial median stripe), lobes 0.8–1.5 cm, strongly reflexed in flower, appressed to tube, obtuse, acute, or abruptly soft-pointed, red; anther tip < pollen sac
Chromosomes: 2n=26
Ecology: Shady wet places
Elevation: 1100–1900 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Sierra Nevada.KR (McCloud River) plants with tapered calyx lobes are A. caudatum
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN, SHD: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17; GRCVR.