Smearwort (Aristolochia rotunda)
Description
Aristolochia rotunda, commonly known as smearwort or round-leaved birthwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Southern Europe. The genus name Aristolochia derives from the Greek words αριστος (aristos) meaning "the best" and 'lochéia' meaning ' childbirth', for the old use in promoting uterine contractions. The Latin name of the species rotunda refers to the rounded shape of the leaves. The root reaches 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) in length and sometimes seems out of proportion to the slenderness of the plant. The unbranched stem has alternate, large, smooth-edged, heart-shaped and stalkless leaves that clasp the stem with enlarged, basal lobes. The solitary flowers have an unpleasant odor and they are tubular, about 2.5–5 centimetres (0.98–1.97 in) long, yellowish-green with a prominent, dark-brown or dark purple flap, both arising from the axils of the leaves. The flowering period extends from April through June.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Piperales
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Family: Aristolochiaceae
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Genus: Aristolochia
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