Aristolochia littoralis
Aristolochia littoralis, commonly known as the coastal birthwort, is a striking perennial climber native to tropical regions. Characterized by heart-shaped leaves and unique, tube-like flowers, this plant holds significant botanical interest. While historically used in traditional medicine, modern science cautions against its consumption due to potential nephrotoxic properties.
- Scientific name: Aristolochia littoralis
- Family: Aristolochiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Piperales, it is situated in the family Aristolochiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Aristolochia, specifically as the species Aristolochia littoralis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Aristolochiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aristolochia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Aristolochia littoralis, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Russian, it is called Кирказон прибрежный, while in Korean, it is known as 갯쥐방울덩굴. The plant is also identified in Chinese through several regional variations, including 美丽马兜铃, 美丽马兜铃 (simplified), and 美麗馬兜鈴 (traditional).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Кирказон прибрежный | Wikidata |
| zh | 美丽马兜铃 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 美丽马兜铃 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 美麗馬兜鈴 | Wikidata |
| ko | 갯쥐방울덩굴 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 美丽马兜铃 | Wikidata |
| ko | 해변마두령 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence can be noted within the borders of Gambia. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species is documented in Burundi and the Central African Republic. It also extends its reach to the islands located within the Gulf of Guinea. Finally, the distribution continues into Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically within the country of Chad.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Chad | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aristolochia littoralis, is characterized by its distinct morphological features, most notably its large, heart-shaped leaves. These leaves are typically arranged alternately along the stem and serve as the primary site for photosynthesis, providing the energy necessary for the plant's growth and the development of its unique, tubular flowers. In the context of medicinal botany, the chemical compounds found within the leaf tissue are often studied, though it is important to note that many species in this genus contain aristolochic acid, which requires careful scientific consideration.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aristolochia littoralis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aristolochia littoralis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dysmenorrhea.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dysmenorrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |