Aristolochia ringens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Howardia ringens
• Howardia galeata
• Aristolochia turbacensis
• Howardia cymbifera
• Aristolochia globiflora

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Aristolochia ringens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Piperales. Finally, it is a member of the family Aristolochiaceae and the genus Aristolochia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Aristolochia ringens, is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its natural range extends across several key nations, including the coastal and inland regions of Benin and Ghana. Additionally, the species can be located within the territories of Guinea and Nigeria. The geographical presence of this medicinal plant also reaches as far as Senegal. Collectively, these locations highlight its specific distribution throughout the West African tropical belt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aristolochia ringens is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients, allowing it to inhabit a wide variety of landscapes. This species exhibits a significant elevational range, thriving in environments starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and extending up to high-altitude regions reaching 2150 m AMSL. This extensive vertical distribution suggests that the plant can tolerate a spectrum of temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, ranging from tropical lowlands to temperate montane zones. Its ability to persist across such a vast range of elevations indicates a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling it to occupy various niches within forest edges, scrublands, or disturbed habitats depending on the specific moisture and light availability of the local microclimate.

Elevational range max:

2150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aristolochia ringens is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. As a perennial climber, it establishes a long-term presence in its habitat, often developing extensive root systems and woody climbing structures that allow it to endure seasonal shifts and continue vegetative growth over many years. Its life cycle involves a continuous process of seasonal development, where it utilizes its climbing habit to reach higher light intensities, facilitating the eventual production of reproductive structures. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can recover from environmental stressors and maintain a stable population within its ecological niche over an extended temporal scale.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aristolochia ringens is characterized by its growth habit as a terrestrial plant, avoiding aquatic or semiaquatic environments. It functions as an obligatory climber, specifically categorized as a liana, which utilizes surrounding structures for support rather than being self-supporting. This climbing mechanism is essential to its development, as it lacks the capacity to grow upright independently. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its epiphytic classification, meaning it does not inhabit other plants as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, but rather establishes itself in the soil. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward host plants. In terms of structural composition, the plant is non-woody, consisting of flexible, herbaceous, or semi-succulent tissues rather than rigid, lignified wood.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aristolochia ringens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Aristolochia ringens has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aristolochic acid, Aristolochic acid I, Aristolone, Flavonoids, Phenols.

Aristolochic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aristolochic acid I

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aristolone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Aristolochia ringens has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Mutagenic.

Anticancer

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Fitoterapia

Mutagenic

1. Fitoterapia

Medicinal Uses

Aristolochia ringens has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus cereus, colorectal cancer, hyperglycemia, insomnia, rheumatoid arthritis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations