What plant is Aristolochia tubiflora? Introduction to its morphological characteristics and growth habits

Yidianxue, Duyiwei, Hongbaiyao.

Native to Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and other places, it is now widely distributed in southern China.

Aristolochia tubiflora is a herbaceous vine; its roots are slender and cylindrical, yellow-brown in color; the stems are hairless and have grooves when dry; the young branches and petioles of Aristolochia tubiflora exude a slightly red sap when broken. The leaves have a papery or membranous feel, are ovate-cordate in shape, with a slightly blunt tip and a shallowly cordate base, the two lateral lobes drooping, the leaf margin entire, the upper surface dark green, the lower surface light green or powdery green, and the leaf surface is often densely covered with small dots; the capsule is brown and oblong, and the fruit stalk splits into 6 strips along with the fruit when it dehisces; the seeds are ovate, with raised small dots on the back and a sunken raphe on the ventral side. The flowering period is April to August, and the fruiting period is October to December.

Aristolochia tubiflora mostly grows in shady and damp places under forests. The flowers of Aristolochia tubiflora can emit a carrion odor to attract insects; after entering the floral tube, the insects find it difficult to crawl out because they are blocked by the hairs on the inner side of the flower. After the pollen matures, it falls on the backs of the insects; at this time the hairs wither, and the insects fly out to carry out pollination.

The roots and fruits are used as medicine, and have the effects of clearing lung heat, relieving cough, and calming asthma.The roots can be used to clear heat and detoxify, relieve pain, and are used for stomach pain and venomous snake bites. The whole plant can be used for traumatic injuries.