Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Plants Wanted Or For Exchange => Topic started by: aristoflora on November 01, 2015, 09:15:39 PM

Title: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 01, 2015, 09:15:39 PM
Hi!

I'm a passionate collector of the very variable and bizarre genus Aristolochia and searching for many European species (especially from eastern Europe) at the moment. Does anybody have seeds or root stocks of the mostly tuberous species of this genus? Cuttings may also be an option to propagate.
I am very interested in any of these oddities for exchange or sale!
My collection comprises the following european species:

Aristolochia
> baetica
> bianorii
> clusii
> paucinervis
> rotunda


The other species (currently) are:
 
Aristolochia
> auricularia
> baseri
> billardieri
> bodamae
> bottae
> brevilabris
> castellana
> cilicica
> cretica
> elongata
> fontanesii
> geniculata
> guichardii
> hirta
> hyrcana
> iberica
> incisa
> isaurica
> krausei
> lutea (possibly a synonym for A. pallida)
> lycica
> macedonica
> maurorum
> merxmuelleri
> microstoma
> navicularis
> olivieri
> paecilantha
> pallida
> parvifolia
> pistolochia
> poluninii
> pontica
> rechingeriana
> sempervirens
> sicula
> stenosiphon
> steupii
> tyrrhena

Does anybody have access to one of these species?
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Karaba on November 02, 2015, 09:23:25 AM
8 species are growing in France including clematitis and altissima which are missing from your list.
A. pistolochia and A. clematitis are quite common in southern France, I will think to you if I meet them. A pallida is more localized (in Provence), A. altissima and tyrrhena are much more rare (altissima on Côte d'Azur, tyrrhena in Corsica)
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 02, 2015, 11:49:55 AM
Sorry, I forgot to mention A. clematitis being also part of my small collection.  ;D

Aristolochia altissima is currently regarded as a synonym of A. sempervirens, but nevertheless it's a real oddity!
I was at the Cote d' Azur once for holidays, but I didn't spot one of those. A. pistolochia seems more distributed across southwest France (Ardeche & Languedoc-Roussillon surrounding) according to other collectors who often take photos from there. Do you know where Aristolochia occur in your surroundings? I never spotted A. clematitis in southern Germany where it should occur too.
A. tyrrhena is also part of the flora of the Egadi Islands, quite close to Sicily - definitely worth a trip!
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Karaba on November 02, 2015, 01:17:26 PM
I'm little too north and there is nearly no Aristolochia arround my home.

Concerning A. pistolochia, a map is easier than a lot of words, so : http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro (http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro)
You may also have the distribution of the species you want  ;)
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Darren on November 02, 2015, 01:26:50 PM
My A. sempervirens has fruit developing, so I may be able to provide some seeds.

Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 02, 2015, 02:00:55 PM
I'm little too north and there is nearly no Aristolochia arround my home.

Concerning A. pistolochia, a map is easier than a lot of words, so : http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro (http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro)
You may also have the distribution of the species you want  ;)
Thank you very much for your map Karaba, it's really helpful! Please let me know when you come across an Aristolochia in your surrounding ...

My A. sempervirens has fruit developing, so I may be able to provide some seeds.

Darren, do you collect Aristolochia? From where did you get the A. sempervirens? Thank you very much for your offer, of course I would love to get some seeds if possible! Cuttings may also work with this species. Did you ever try it?
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Darren on November 02, 2015, 03:28:47 PM
I would like to collect them as I find them fascinating! Sadly I only have sempervirens.

I got my sempervirens from Tynings Climbers here in the UK.

I have not tried cuttings yet. I got some seed last year, and it germinated and produced short root radicles, but rotted before developing further. Maybe you will have more luck
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on November 02, 2015, 04:40:58 PM
Take care! According to Wikipedia, " Aristolochia has been shown to be both a potent carcinogen and kidney toxin".
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Growild on November 02, 2015, 05:07:58 PM
Cuttings are quite easy from A. sempervirens.
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 02, 2015, 05:38:14 PM
I would like to collect them as I find them fascinating! Sadly I only have sempervirens.

I got my sempervirens from Tynings Climbers here in the UK.

I have not tried cuttings yet. I got some seed last year, and it germinated and produced short root radicles, but rotted before developing further. Maybe you will have more luck

They are indeed beautiful oddities! I sometimes bring rarer european ones with me from holidays, but I recognized late that there are perennial ones beside the giant tropical vines and bushes. Therefore I found the first Aristolochia accidentially two years ago in southern Spain.

Unfortunately, Aristolochia species are often said to be really difficult to propagate. But if you have the right substrate mix, a root stimulator, high air humidity and a good air circulation they produce roots like every normal cutting ... ;)

Well, it would be a pleasure for me to exchange with you - I'm looking for A. sempervirens now for a long time. Just contact me via PM and we can talk about details.

Take care! According to Wikipedia, " Aristolochia has been shown to be both a potent carcinogen and kidney toxin".

For everybody who doesn't know it yet: Aristolochia are NOT funny litte plants with protocarnivorous flowers, they can be really dangerous if ingested! Keep them well away from children or animals! I always use insulating gloves when I handle them. The dangerous substance is called Aristolochic acid and has even caused an epidemic in the 1950s-1970s in the Balkan region because local people had mixed seeds into their grain used for making bread.

The amount of Aristolochic acid in leaves & stems is very low (> 0,05%), in seeds up to 0,5 % and in the roots up to 1%. If you know this and handle the plants appropriately (and do not eat them  ;)), there is absolutely no reason to be insecure.
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 02, 2015, 06:04:24 PM
Here are some pictures of my Aristolochia from this year:

Aristolochia paucinervis
[attach=1]
[attach=2]

Aristolochia baetica
[attach=3]

Aristolochia clusii
[attach=4]

At the moment they are in dormancy, so nothing interesting to see anymore...
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: fleurbleue on November 02, 2015, 08:47:58 PM
http://www.alsagarden.com/fr/93-plantes-rares-rustiques (http://www.alsagarden.com/fr/93-plantes-rares-rustiques) for A. debilis seeds  ;)
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 03, 2015, 10:03:47 AM
Aristolochia debilis is known for being a hardy species but originates from Asia ;)
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Anthony Darby on November 11, 2015, 04:58:01 AM
Aristolochias are the food plants for some European butterflies, e.g. Zerynthia spp. Some species of Aristolochia from New Guinea have even been named after the species of butterfly feeding on them.
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Gerhard Raschun on November 17, 2015, 08:21:26 AM
There are A. sempervirens, A. guichardii, A. spec. ex Turkey, A. flava next to the common species A. clematitis, A. rotunda, A. debilis in my stock.

Sadly seeds of A. steupii have never germinated.

Three weeks ago a butterfly specialist has got all my surplus plants, so only a few single plants are for exchange left.
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on November 17, 2015, 12:39:34 PM
Aristolochias are the food plants for some European butterflies, e.g. Zerynthia spp. Some species of Aristolochia from New Guinea have even been named after the species of butterfly feeding on them.

That's interesting - which species are these? I don't know any ... as far as I know the Neu Guinean Aristolochia have been placed in the genus Pararistolochia. This was a result of the structure of the flowers being an evolutionary precursor of those of 'real' Aristolochia species.
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Darren on April 04, 2016, 06:43:47 PM
I would like to collect them as I find them fascinating! Sadly I only have sempervirens.

I got my sempervirens from Tynings Climbers here in the UK.

I have not tried cuttings yet. I got some seed last year, and it germinated and produced short root radicles, but rotted before developing further. Maybe you will have more luck

To update this. The pod rotted before maturing so I have just taken some cuttings. They have produced loads of new growth and I thought this meant they had rooted, but apparently not so will have to wait a bit longer!
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: Tony Willis on April 07, 2016, 03:44:45 PM
Aristolochia hirta which I still grow

Aristolochia cilicia (possibly) which I have lost
Title: Re: Aristolochiaceae in Europe
Post by: aristoflora on April 29, 2016, 09:07:11 AM
Aristolochia clusii is flowering at the moment!
[attach=1]

and A. bianorii is improving fast, too:
[attach=2]
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