Aristolochia-rotunda_5

Description:

Aristolochia rotunda L.Family: Aristolochiaceae Juss.EN: Smearwort, Round-leaved Birthwort; DE: Rundknollige OsterluzeiSlo.: okroglolistni podraecDate: Apr. 23. 2006Lat.: 44.3851 Long.: 14.7931 (WGS84)Code: Bot_114/2006_DSC0091Habitat: Sea shore, about 30 m from the sea; flat terrain; stony, calcareous ground, among bushes, relatively moist place, mostly in shade; elevation 3 m (10 feet); average precipitations ~ 1.000 mm/year, average temperature 12-13 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Place: Adriatic Sea shore, island Olib, Slatenica bay, Dalmatia, Croatia EC.Substratum: soil.Comment: (relates to the album Aristolochia rotunda):Members of the genus Aristolochia are all plants with bizarre looking and highly specialized flowers. The flowers of the species Aristolochia rotunda can be up to 5 cm long. They work as temporary traps for small insects. Once the insects descend into the flower tube to reach honey, special hairs inside prevent them to escape back to freedom until they fertilize it. After successful pollination the hairs sag and the doors to freedom open again.The whole plant is poisonous. It contains aristolochic acids, which are known for their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. In spite of this, it is the exclusive food for larvae of the beautiful and rare butterfly Zerynthia polyxena. Since larvae feed with the leaves, they themselves become poisonous. The poisons serve as a 'weapon' against their predators. Birds are very well informed about this fact!The species is an Circum-Mediterranean floral element and is quite common along the Croatian Adriatic Sea shore and on Adriatic islands, including warmest regions of Slovenia. Ref.(1) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 120. (2) I. Schnfelder, P. Schnfelder, Kosmos Atlas Mittelmeer- und Kanarenflora, Kosmos, (2002), p 30.